Reproduction apparatus, reproduction method, reproduction program, and computer-readable record medium with reproduction program

ABSTRACT

A reproduction apparatus, a reproduction method, a reproduction program, and a computer-readable record medium where a reproduction program is stored are provided which are capable of shortening a user&#39;s waiting time until the beginning of the part which the user wants to view is reproduced and improving the user&#39;s operability. 
     A reading control section  40  reproduces information which it has read from a record medium; a reproduction-operation section  20  accepts either instruction for a forward skip or a backward skip; and a controller  10  makes the skip time for either of the forward skip and the backward skip longer than the skip time for the other, determines the skip time based on either of the instruction for the forward skip and the instruction for the backward skip, and if either instruction for the forward skip or the backward skip is accepted while the information is reproduced, then stops the reproduction, moves the position in which the information is read by the skip time determined by a skip-time determination section  11 , and resumes the reproduction after the movement of the reading position is completed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a reproduction apparatus, areproduction method, a reproduction program, and a computer-readablerecord medium where a reproduction program is stored, which reproduce apicture or a voice recorded in a record medium.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a method is generally used in which a skip operation isexecuted when a picture or a voice recorded in a record medium isreproduced. If you hope to omit the part you do not want to watch, or ifyou hope to jump to the part you want to view, then you can skip whatyou do not want to watch, or you can skip to what you want to view.

As this method of skipping the part you do not want to view or skippingto the part you want to view, there is a method where an operationswitch is provided and this operation switch is pressed during areproduction so that a preset time can be skipped forward or backward(e.g., refer to Patent Document 1).

Using FIG. 15, an operation will be specifically described about theconventional skip processing of Patent Document 1. FIG. 15 is anillustration, showing the conventional skip-processing operation ofPatent Document 1. FIG. 15A shows an array of pictures or voices whichare recorded in a record medium. FIG. 15B shows a reproduction and askip. In FIG. 15A, white belts 601, 603 indicate the parts of thepictures or voices recorded in the record medium which a user wants towatch or listen to. A hatched belt 602 indicates the part of thepictures or voices recorded in the record medium which the user does notwant to view or listen to.

In FIG. 15B, each solid-line rightward arrow 604 a, 604 b, 604 c, 604 d,604 e indicates a reproduction processing. Each broken-line rightwardarrow 605 a, 605 b, 605 c indicates a forward skip processing. Abroken-line leftward arrow 606 a indicates a backward skip processing.

In FIG. 15A which shows the array of pictures or voices recorded in therecord medium, as an example, by taking up the operation for skippingthe part 602 which the user does not want to watch or listen to, theoperation of a skip method will be described in the conventionalreproduction apparatus.

When the pictures or voices recorded in the record medium are reproducedas shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 604 a of FIG. 15B, in theposition shown by timing T601, the user notices that the part 602 theuser does not want to view has come. In order to skip to the part whichthe user wants to watch or listen to, the user executes a forward-skipoperation. Thereby, as shown by the broken-line rightward arrow 605 a, apreset skip time Ts is skipped, and from the position shown by timingT602, the reproduction is resumed as shown by the solid-line rightwardarrow 604 b.

Next, in the position shown by timing T603, the user becomes aware thatthe reproduction is still in the part 602 the user does not want toview. In order to skip to the part which the user wants to watch, theuser executes the forward-skip operation. Thereby, as shown by thebroken-line rightward arrow 605 b, a skip is executed over the presetskip time Ts, and from the position shown by timing T604, thereproduction is resumed as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 604c.

Sequentially, in the position shown by timing T605, the user noticesthat the reproduction is still in the part 602 the user does not want toview. In order to skip to the part which the user wants to watch, theuser executes the forward-skip operation. Thereby, as shown by thebroken-line rightward arrow 605 c, the reproduction skips over thepreset skip time Ts, and from the position shown by timing T608, thereproduction is resumed as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 604d.

Next, in the position shown by timing T609, the user becomes aware thatthe reproduction has skipped up to the part 603 which the user wants towatch. In order to watch the part 603 which the user wants to view fromthe beginning shown by timing T607, the user executes a backward-skipoperation. Thereby, as shown by the broken-line leftward arrow 606 a,the preset skip time Ts is skipped, and from the position shown bytiming T606, the reproduction is resumed as shown by the solid-linerightward arrow 604 e.

At this time, in the reproduction state, the user waits to reach thehead of the part 603 the user wants to view (i.e., for a period Tw8 fromthe timing T606 to the timing T607). Then, the user watches the part 603which the user wants to view. In this way, using the conventional skipprocessing of Patent Document 1, a skip can be executed over the partwhich the user does not want to view, or a skip can be executed up tothe part which the user wants to view.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-147534 specification

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

However, according to the conventional skip processing, in theforward-skip operation and the backward-skip operation, the skip time isthe same, no matter whether it is forward or backward. Therefore, inorder to skip the part which the user does not want to view, the userrepeats the forward-skip operation. Thereafter, the user executes thebackward-skip operation, so that the user can watch the part which theuser wants to view, from the beginning. At this time, the time longerthan necessary is skipped backward. This presents a disadvantage in thatthe user has to wait for a long time until the head of the part whichthe user wants to view is reproduced.

In order to evade this disadvantage, if the skip time is set shorter insuch a skip operation, that can shorten the waiting time until the headof the part which the user wants to view is reproduced. However, if sucha shorter skip time is set, another disadvantage arises in that moreskips are required to skip the part which the user does not want toview.

In order to resolve the above described disadvantages, it is an objectof the present invention to provide a reproduction apparatus, areproduction method, a reproduction program, and a computer-readablerecord medium where a reproduction program is stored, which are capableof shortening a user's waiting time until the beginning of the partwhich the user wants to view is reproduced and improving the user'soperability.

A reproduction apparatus according to the present invention,characterized by including: a reproducing means for reading informationstored in a record medium and reproducing this information; askip-operation accepting means for arbitrarily accepting eitherinstruction for a forward reproduction-position skip or a backwardreproduction-position skip; a skip-time determining means for making askip time for either of the forward reproduction-position skip and thebackward reproduction-position skip longer than a skip time for theother, and determining a skip time based on either of the instructionfor the forward reproduction-position skip and the instruction for thebackward reproduction-position skip which is accepted by theskip-operation accepting means; and a controlling means for, if theskip-operation accepting means accepts either instruction for theforward reproduction-position skip or the backward reproduction-positionskip during a reproduction in the reproducing means, then stopping thereproduction in the reproducing means, moving the position in which thereproducing means reads information from the record medium by the skiptime determined by the skip-time determining means, and resuming thereproduction after the movement of the reading position is completed.

According to this configuration, information stored in a record mediumis read and this information is reproduced. Then, either instruction fora forward reproduction-position skip or a backward reproduction-positionskip is arbitrarily accepted. Next, a skip time for either of theforward reproduction-position skip and the backwardreproduction-position skip is made longer than a skip time for theother, and a skip time is determined based on either of the instructionfor the forward reproduction-position skip and the instruction for thebackward reproduction-position skip which has been accepted. During areproduction, if either instruction for the forwardreproduction-position skip or the backward reproduction-position skip isaccepted, then the reproduction is brought to a stop, the position inwhich information is read from the record medium is moved by thedetermined skip time, and the reproduction is resumed after the movementof the reading position has been completed.

In this way, the skip time is determined based on whether the acceptedskip is forward or backward. Besides, the skip time for either of theforward reproduction-position skip and the backwardreproduction-position skip is made longer than the skip time for theother.

According to the present invention, the forward skip time becomes longerthan the backward skip time. In order to skip the part which a user doesnot want to view, the user repeatedly gives an instruction for theforward skip. Thereafter, the user executes the backward skip, so thatthe user can watch the part which the user wants to view, from itsbeginning. In this case, the skip time is determined so that thebackward skip time becomes shorter than the forward skip time. Thishelps shorten the user's waiting time until the head of the part whichthe user wants to view is reproduced, and enhance the user'soperability.

The objects, characteristics and advantages of the present inventionwill be more evident in the following detailed description and attacheddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram, showing an example of the configuration of aDVD player according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram, showing a detailed configuration of the DVDplayer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart, showing the processing contents of a controllerof the DVD player according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration, showing an operation of the DVD playeraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustration, showing an operation of the DVD playeraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention, in the casewhere the part which a user does not want to view is slightly shorterthan that of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram, showing a detailed configuration of a DVDplayer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart, showing the processing contents of a controllerof the DVD player according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram, showing a detailed configuration of a DVDplayer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart, showing the processing contents of a controllerof the DVD player according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an illustration, showing an operation of the DVD playeraccording to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram, showing the configuration of a DVD playeraccording to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart, showing the processing contents of a controllerof the DVD player according to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an illustration, showing an operation of the DVD playeraccording to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an illustration, showing a concrete operation of the DVDplayer according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an illustration, showing a skip-processing operation by aconventional reproduction apparatus.

BEST MODE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the reproduction apparatus according to each embodiment ofthe present invention will be described with reference to the attacheddrawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram, showing an example of the configuration of aDVD player according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Itsreproduction-processing operation will be described below.

The DVD player shown in FIG. 1 is an example of the reproductionapparatus. It is configured by: a controller 10; areproduction-operation section 20; a memory 30; a reading controlsection 40; a DVD drive 50; a decoding section 60; and a display section70.

The controller 10 executes control so that information (e.g., a pictureand a voice) recorded in a DVD disk is reproduced. It executes control,using the memory 30, so that the information recorded in the DVD diskcan be reproduced. The controller 10 controls the reading controlsection 40 according to instructions from the reproduction-operationsection 20. According to the control of the controller 10, the readingcontrol section 40 reads a stream from the DVD drive 50. Then, itoutputs, to the decoding section 60, the stream which it has read fromthe DVD drive 50. The decoding section 60 decodes the stream inputtedfrom the reading control section 40 and outputs the information it hasdecoded to the display section 70. The display section 70 displays thedecoded information inputted from the decoding section 60.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram, showing a detailed configuration of the DVDplayer shown in FIG. 1. The reproduction-operation section 20 includes aforward-skip operation section 21 and a backward-skip operation section22. The forward-skip operation section 21 accepts an instruction for aforward reproduction-position skip by a user. The backward-skipoperation section 22 accepts an instruction for a backwardreproduction-position skip by a user. The memory 30 includes a forwardskip-time storage section 31 and a backward skip-time storage section32. In the forward skip-time storage section 31, a forward skip time Tfsat the time of a forward skip is stored beforehand. In the backwardskip-time storage section 32, a backward skip time Tbs at the time of abackward skip is stored beforehand. The backward skip time Tbs is asmaller value than the forward skip time Tfs.

The controller 10 includes a skip-time determination section 11 and areproduction control section 12. The skip-time determination section 11determines a skip time, based on either of the instruction for a forwardreproduction-position skip which is accepted by the forward-skipoperation section 21 and the instruction for a backwardreproduction-position skip which is accepted by the backward-skipoperation section 22.

While the reading control section 40 is executing a reproduction, ifeither of the instruction for a forward reproduction-position skip bythe forward-skip operation section 21 and the instruction for a backwardreproduction-position skip by the backward-skip operation section 22 isaccepted, then the reproduction control section 12 stops thereproduction by the reading control section 40. Next, it moves theposition in which the reading control section 40 reads information fromthe record medium, by the skip time determined by the skip-timedetermination section 11. Then, it resumes the reproduction after themovement of the reading position has been completed.

Herein, in this embodiment, the reading control section 40 correspondsto an example of the reproducing means; the forward-skip operationsection 21 and the backward-skip operation section 22, to an example ofthe skip-operation accepting means; the skip-time determination section11, to an example of the skip-time determining means; the reproductioncontrol section 12, to an example of the controlling means; the forwardskip-time storage section 31, to an example of the forward skip-timestoring means; and the backward skip-time storage section 32, to anexample of the backward skip-time storing means.

Hereinafter, in the first embodiment, an operation will be described inthe case where the forward-skip operation section 21 or thebackward-skip operation section 22 is operated during a reproduction.

If an instruction is given from the forward-skip operation section 21,the skip-time determination section 11 extracts the forward skip timeTfs from the forward skip-time storage section 31. Then, thereproduction control section 12 instructs the reading control section 40to move the reading position forward by the forward skip time Tfsextracted from the forward skip-time storage section 31.

On the other hand, if an instruction is given from the backward-skipoperation section 22, the skip-time determination section 11 extractsthe backward skip time Tbs from the backward skip-time storage section32. Then, the reproduction control section 12 instructs the readingcontrol section 40 to move the reading position backward by the backwardskip time Tbs extracted from the backward skip-time storage section 32.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart, showing the processing contents of thecontroller 10 of the DVD player according to the first embodiment shownin FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. It is made up of the processing from a step S1 toa step S11. In the case where the forward-skip operation section 21 orthe backward-skip operation section 22 is operated during areproduction, the operation state and processing contents will bedescribed below.

First, in a step S1, the reproduction control section 12 decides whetheror not an instruction is given for a reproduction operation forreproducing information stored in a DVD disk which is the record medium.The reproduction-operation section 20 accepts the reproduction operationby a user. If it has accepted the reproduction operation, it outputs thereproduction instruction to the reproduction control section 12. Herein,if the decision is made that no instruction is given for thereproduction operation (NO in the step S1), it is kept on standby untilan instruction is given for the reproduction operation.

On the other hand, if the decision is made that an instruction has beengiven for the reproduction operation (YES in the step S1), thereproduction instruction is inputted from the reproduction-operationsection 20 in a step S2. Then, the reproduction control section 12instructs the reading control section 40 to read information from areproduction position which is designated by the user. The readingcontrol section 40 calculates the reading position of the DVD disk whichcorresponds to the information reproduction position designated by theuser. Then, it controls the DVD drive 50 so that it reads informationfrom this reading position. The DVD drive 50 drives its internalactuator so that an optical pickup moves to the reading position. Then,it reads a stream which is stored in the DVD disk and outputs it to thereading control section 40. The reading control section 40 outputs thestream outputted from the DVD drive 50 to the decoding section 60. Thedecoding section 60 decodes the stream outputted from the readingcontrol section 40 and outputs the information it has decoded to thedisplay section 70. The display section 70 displays the informationdecoded by the decoding section 60.

Next, in a step S3, the reproduction control section 12 decides whetherthere is a skip operation or not. The forward-skip operation section 21accepts a forward reproduction-position skip operation by the user. Ifit has accepted a forward skip operation, it outputs a forward skipinstruction to the reproduction control section 12. In contrast, thebackward-skip operation section 22 accepts a backwardreproduction-position skip operation by the user. If it has accepted abackward skip operation, it outputs a backward skip instruction to thereproduction control section 12. Incidentally, the processing of thestep S3 is frequently executed while being reproduced.

If the decision is made that no instruction has been given for theforward and the backward skip operations (NO in the step S3), then in astep S4, the reproduction control section 12 decides whether or not aninstruction is given for a stop operation for stopping the informationwhich is currently reproduced. The reproduction-operation section 20accepts the stop operation by the user. If it has accepted the stopoperation, it outputs a stop instruction to the reproduction controlsection 12. Herein, if the decision is made that no instruction has beengiven for the stop operation (NO in the step S4), the processing returnsto the step S2. Then, the information read from the DVD disk iscontinuously reproduced.

On the other hand, if the decision is made that an instruction has beengiven for the stop operation (YES in the step S4), then in a step S5,the reproduction control section 12 instructs the reading controlsection 40 to stop reading information. If the stop instruction isinputted from the reproduction control section 12 in the reading controlsection 40, the reading control section 40 controls the DVD drive 50 sothat it stops reading information.

If the decision is made that an instruction has been given for theforward or the backward skip operation (YES in the step S3), then in astep S6, the reproduction control section 12 instructs the readingcontrol section 40 to stop reading information. If the stop instructionis inputted from the reproduction control section 12 in the readingcontrol section 40, the reading control section 40 controls the DVDdrive 50 so that it stops reading information.

Next, in a step S7, the reproduction control section 12 decides whetheror not the forward skip operation has been accepted. If the decision ismade that the forward skip operation has been accepted (YES in the stepS7), then in a step S8, the skip-time determination section 11determines a forward reproduction-position skip time. Specifically, theskip-time determination section 11 reads the forward skip time Tfsstored beforehand in the forward skip-time storage section 31. In thisembodiment, the forward skip time Tfs is set, for example, at 15seconds.

Sequentially, in a step S9, the reproduction control section 12instructs the reading control section 40 to move the reading positionforward by the forward skip time Tfs read from the forward skip-timestorage section 31. The reading control section 40 calculates thereading position which corresponds to the reproduction position which isthe forward skip time Tfs ahead of the current reproduction position.Then, it instructs the DVD drive 50 to move the optical pickup to thereading position it has calculated. The DVD drive 50 drives the actuatorand moves the optical pickup's reading position by the forward skip timeTfs from the current reading position. Then, after the movement of thereading position has been completed, the processing returns to the stepS2 and the reproduction is resumed.

On the other hand, if the decision is made that the forward skipoperation has not been accepted, in other words, that the backward skipoperation has been accepted (NO in the step S7), then in a step S10, theskip-time determination section 11 determines a backwardreproduction-position skip time. Specifically, the skip-timedetermination section 11 reads the backward skip time Tbs storedbeforehand in the backward skip-time storage section 32. In thisembodiment, the backward skip time Tbs is set, for example, at fiveseconds.

Next, in a step S1, the reproduction control section 12 instructs thereading control section 40 to move the reading position backward by thebackward skip time Tbs read from the backward skip-time storage section32. The reading control section 40 calculates the reading position whichcorresponds to the reproduction position which is the backward skip timeTbs behind the present reproduction position. Then, it instructs the DVDdrive 50 to move the optical pickup to the reading position it hascalculated. The DVD drive 50 drives the actuator and moves the opticalpickup's reading position by the backward skip time Tbs from the presentreading position. Then, after the movement of the reading position hasbeen completed, the processing returns to the step S2 and thereproduction is resumed.

In this way, the skip time is determined based on whether the acceptedskip is forward or backward. Besides, the skip time for either of theforward reproduction-position skip and the backwardreproduction-position skip is made longer than the skip time for theother. Therefore, the forward skip time becomes longer than the backwardskip time. In order to skip the part which a user does not want to view,the user repeatedly gives an instruction for the forward skip.Thereafter, the user executes the backward skip, so that the user canwatch the part which the user wants to view, from its beginning. In thiscase, the skip time is determined so that the backward skip time becomesshorter than the forward skip time. This helps shorten the user'swaiting time until the beginning of the part which the user wants toview is reproduced, and enhance the user's operability.

Furthermore, the forward reproduction-position skip time is stored inadvance and the backward reproduction-position skip time is storedbeforehand. Then, if a forward skip instruction is accepted, the forwardreproduction-position skip time stored in advance is chosen. Incontrast, if a backward reproduction-position skip instruction isaccepted, the backward reproduction-position skip time stored beforehandis chosen. In sum, the skip time which is stored in advance is chosen.Therefore, the skip time which corresponds to the forward or backwardreproduction-position skip operation can be easily determined.

Moreover, the value of the forward reproduction-position skip time isgreater than that of the backward reproduction-position skip time, andthey are stored beforehand. In order to skip the part which a user doesnot want to view, the user repeatedly gives an instruction for theforward skip. Thereafter, the user executes the backward skip, so thatthe user can watch the part which the user wants to view, from itsbeginning. In this case, the skip time is determined so that thebackward skip time becomes shorter than the forward skip time. Thishelps shorten the user's waiting time until the beginning of the partwhich the user wants to view is reproduced.

FIG. 4 is an illustration, showing an operation of the DVD playeraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4Ashows an array of pictures or voices recorded in a DVD disk which is setin the DVD drive 50. FIG. 4B shows a reproduction and a skip. In FIG.4A, white belts 101, 103 indicate the parts of the pictures or voicesrecorded in the DVD disk which a user wants to watch or listen to. Ahatched belt 102 indicates the part of the pictures or voices recordedin the DVD disk which the user does not want to view.

In addition, in FIG. 4B, each solid-line rightward arrow 104 a, 104 b,104 c, 104 d, 104 e indicates a reproduction processing. Eachbroken-line rightward arrow 105 a, 105 b, 105 c indicates a forward skipprocessing. A broken-line leftward arrow 106 a indicates a backward skipprocessing. In the pictures or voices recorded in the DVD disk, as anexample, by taking up the operation for skipping the part 102 which theuser does not want to watch, an operation will be described about theDVD player according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

When the pictures or voices recorded in the DVD disk are reproduced asshown by the solid-line rightward arrow 104 a, in the position shown bytiming T101, the user notices that the part 102 the user does not wantto view has come. In order to skip to the part which the user wants towatch, the user operates the forward-skip operation section 21. Thereby,as shown by the broken-line rightward arrow 105 a, a skip is executedover the forward skip time Tfs stored in the forward skip-time storagesection 31, and from the position shown by timing T102, the reproductionis resumed as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 104 b.

Next, in the position shown by timing T103, the user becomes aware thatthe reproduction is still in the part 102 the user does not want toview. In order to skip to the part which the user wants to watch, theuser further operates the forward-skip operation section 21. Thereby, asshown by the broken-line rightward arrow 105 b, a skip is executed overthe forward skip time Tfs stored in the forward skip-time storagesection 31, and from the position shown by timing T104, the reproductionis resumed as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 104 c.

Sequentially, in the position shown by timing T105, the user noticesthat the reproduction is still in the part 102 the user does not want toview. In order to skip to the part which the user wants to watch, theuser the user still further operates the forward-skip operation section21. Thereby, as shown by the broken-line rightward arrow 105 c, thereproduction skips over the forward skip time Tfs stored in the forwardskip-time storage section 31, and from the position shown by timingT108, the reproduction is resumed as shown by the solid-line rightwardarrow 104 d.

Next, in the position shown by timing T109, the user becomes aware thatthe reproduction has skipped up to the part 103 which the user wants towatch. In order to watch the part 103 which the user wants to view fromthe beginning shown by timing T107, the user operates the backward-skipoperation section 22. Thereby, as shown by the broken-line leftwardarrow 106 a, a skip is executed over the backward skip time Tbs storedin the backward skip-time storage section 32. Then, from the positionshown by timing T106, the reproduction is resumed as shown by thesolid-line rightward arrow 104 e. In the reproduction state, the userwaits for the reproduction to come to an end for a period Tw4 from thetiming T106 to the head of the part 103 the user wants to view which isindicated by the timing T107. Then, the user watches the part 103 whichthe user wants to view.

FIG. 5 is an illustration, showing an operation of the DVD playeraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention, in the casewhere the part which a user does not want to view is slightly shorterthan that of FIG. 4. FIG. 5A shows an array of pictures or voicesrecorded in a DVD disk which is set in the DVD drive 50. FIG. 5B shows areproduction and a skip. In FIG. 5A, white belts 201, 203 indicate theparts of the pictures or voices recorded in the DVD disk which a userwants to watch or listen to. A hatched belt 202 indicates the part ofthe pictures or voices recorded in the DVD disk which the user does notwant to view.

In addition, in FIG. 5B, each solid-line rightward arrow 204 a, 204 b,204 c, 204 d, 204 e, 204 f indicates a reproduction processing. Eachbroken-line rightward arrow 205 a, 205 b, 205 c indicates a forward skipprocessing. Each broken-line leftward arrow 206 a, 206 b indicates abackward skip processing. In the pictures or voices recorded in the DVDdisk, as an example, by taking up the operation for skipping the part202 which the user does not want to watch, an operation will bedescribed about the DVD player according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

Incidentally, in FIG. 5, from the position shown by timing T204 afterthe initial two forward-skip operations, the reproduction is resumed asshown by the solid-line rightward arrow 204 c. Until this point of time,the operation is the same as that of FIG. 4, and thus, its descriptionis omitted. Hence, a description will be given about the followingoperation.

Next, in the position shown by timing T205, the user becomes aware thatthe reproduction is still in the part 202 the user does not want toview. In order to skip to the part which the user wants to watch, theuser operates the forward-skip operation section 21. Thereby, as shownby the broken-line rightward arrow 205 c, a skip is executed over theforward skip time Tfs stored in the forward skip-time storage section31, and from the position shown by timing T210, the reproduction isresumed as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 204 d.

Next, in the position shown by timing T211, the user becomes aware thatthe reproduction has skipped up to the part 203 which the user wants towatch. In order to watch the part 203 the user wants to view from thebeginning which is indicated by timing T207, the user operates thebackward-skip operation section 22. Thereby, as shown by the broken-lineleftward arrow 206 a, a skip is executed over the backward skip time Tbsstored in the backward skip-time storage section 32. Then, from theposition shown by timing T208, the reproduction is resumed as shown bythe solid-line rightward arrow 204 e.

Sequentially, in the position shown by timing T209, the user becomesaware that the reproduction has not returned to the head of the part 203which the user wants to watch. In order to watch the part 203 the userwants to view from the beginning which is indicated by timing T207, theuser further operates the backward-skip operation section 22. Thereby,as shown by the broken-line leftward arrow 206 b, a skip is executedover the backward skip time Tbs stored in the backward skip-time storagesection 32. Then, from the position shown by timing T206, thereproduction is resumed as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 204f. In the reproduction state, the user waits for the reproduction tocome to an end for a period Tw5 from the timing T206 to the beginning ofthe part 203 the user wants to view which is indicated by the timingT207. Then, the user watches the part 203 which the user wants to view.

As described above, in this embodiment, a user executes a forward skipover the part which the user does not want to view. Thereafter, in orderto watch the part which the user wants to view from its beginning, theuser gives an instruction for a backward skip. Since the backward skiptime Tbs is a smaller value than the forward skip time Tfs, thereproduction skips backward over the shorter skip time than the forwardskip time. This helps shorten the user's waiting time until the head ofthe part which the user wants to view is reproduced.

Incidentally, the above described description is given, as an example,in the case where the present invention is applied to a DVD player.However, the present invention can be implemented, in the same way, evenin a system which is capable of reading information from a record mediumother than a DVD disk and displaying it. For example, except for a DVDdisk in which digital information can be optically read, it can beapplied to a CD, an MD, an SD memory card, or the like. Furthermore, itcan also be applied to a magnetic tape where analog information can beread.

Moreover, the reproduction-operation section 20 not necessarily has tobe formed by the forward-skip operation section 21 and the backward-skipoperation section 22. According to an operation method, a forward skipmay also be distinguished from a backward skip. For example, thereproduction-operation section 20 may also be configured so that if alever is brought down on the right side, that is judged to be a forwardskip, while if the lever is pushed down on the left side, that is judgeda backward skip.

In addition, the forward skip time Tfs and the backward skip time Tbsnot necessarily need to be fixed values. They may also be variablevalues so that a user can set them. Furthermore, in this embodiment, thebackward skip time Tbs is set to be a smaller value than the forwardskip time Tfs. However, the present invention is not limited especiallyto this. The forward skip time Tfs may also be set to be a smaller valuethan the backward skip time Tbs.

In this case, the backward reproduction-position skip time Tbs is storedin advance which is a greater value than the forwardreproduction-position skip time Tfs. Therefore, in order to skip thepart which a user does not want to view, the user repeatedly gives aninstruction for the backward skip. Thereafter, the user executes theforward skip, so that the user can watch the part which the user wantsto view, from its beginning. In this case, the skip time is determinedso that the forward skip time Tfs becomes shorter than the backward skiptime Tbs. Hence, even if an instruction for the forward skip is givenafter the backward skip has been repeated, the part which the user wantsto view can be prevented from being reproduced after passing itsbeginning. Therefore, the user can easily pinpoint the head of the partwhich the user wants to view.

Still further, in this embodiment, during a reproduction, if eitherinstruction for the forward reproduction-position skip or the backwardreproduction-position skip is accepted, then the reproduction is broughtto a stop, the position in which information is read from the recordmedium (i.e., DVD disk) is moved by the skip time determined by theskip-time determination section 11, and the reproduction is resumedafter the movement of the reading position has been completed. However,the present invention is not limited especially to this. In thisembodiment, if either instruction for the forward reproduction-positionskip or the backward reproduction-position skip is accepted at atemporary stop, then the position in which information is read from therecord medium (i.e., DVD disk) may also be moved by the skip timedetermined by the skip-time determination section 11. In that case, onlythe initial information is reproduced in the moved reading position.

In this way, if either instruction for the forward reproduction-positionskip or the backward reproduction-position skip is accepted at atemporary stop, then the position in which information is read from therecord medium is moved by the determined skip time. Then, only theinitial information is reproduced in the moved reading position.Therefore, a user can confirm a picture which is displayed at atemporary stop and skip the reproduction position simultaneously. Hence,there is no need for the reproduction time which is taken to confirm thereproduction position after the skip operation.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the forward skip time Tfs is set, forexample, at 15 seconds and the backward skip time Tbs is set, forexample, at five seconds. However, the present invention is not limitedespecially to this. Taking into account an operation delay time which istaken to confirm whether or not the part which a user wants to view hascome, the forward skip time Tfs may also be set, for example, at 14seconds and the backward skip time Tbs may also be set, for example, atsix seconds.

Incidentally, the component elements according to this embodiment mayalso be realized by operating a program in a computer. Such a programmay also be recorded in a record medium.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Inthe first embodiment, the backward skip time Tbs is set at a smallervalue than the forward skip time Tfs. In contrast, in the secondembodiment, a skip time is supposed to be chosen according to thecontents of an operation ahead of a skip operation accepted by theforward-skip operation section 21 or the backward-skip operation section22.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram, showing a detailed configuration of a DVDplayer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Theother component elements not shown in FIG. 6 are the same as those ofthe first embodiment. In FIG. 6, the component elements are given thesame reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, as long as theformer are identical to the latter. Thus, their description is omitted.A memory 30 includes: a normal skip-time storage section 33; anadjustment skip-time storage section 34; a forward-skip elapse-timestorage section 35; and a backward-skip elapse-time storage section 36.

In the normal skip-time storage section 33, a normal skip time Tns isstored over which a skip is executed when the forward-skip operationsection 21 or the backward-skip operation section 22 is operated, if apredetermine time has passed since the preceding skip operation in theopposite direction to this operation was executed. On the other hand, inthe adjustment skip-time storage section 34, an adjustment skip time Tasis stored over which a skip is executed when the forward-skip operationsection 21 or the backward-skip operation section 22 is operated, unlessthe predetermine time has passed since the preceding skip operation inthe opposite direction to this operation was executed. The adjustmentskip time Tas is a smaller value than the normal skip time Tns.

In the forward-skip elapse-time storage section 35, a forward-skipelapse time is stored which is the time which has elapsed since theforward-skip operation section 21 was last operated. In contrast, thebackward-skip elapse-time storage section 36, a backward-skip elapsetime is stored which is the time which has elapsed since thebackward-skip operation section 22 was last operated. The forward-skipelapse time and the backward-skip elapse time are automatically updatedas time passes by a forward-skip elapse-time clocking section 13 and abackward-skip elapse-time clocking section 14, respectively.

A controller 10 includes: a skip-time determination section 11; areproduction control section 12; the forward-skip elapse-time clockingsection 13; the backward-skip elapse-time clocking section 14; and anelapse-time decision section 15.

The forward-skip elapse-time clocking section 13 clocks the time whichhas elapsed since the forward-skip operation section 21 gave the lastinstruction for the forward reproduction-position skip. Using thiselapse time, it updates the forward-skip elapse time stored in theforward-skip elapse-time storage section 35.

The backward-skip elapse-time clocking section 14 clocks the time whichhas elapsed since the backward-skip operation section 22 gave the lastinstruction for the backward reproduction-position skip. Using thiselapse time, it updates the backward-skip elapse time stored in thebackward-skip elapse-time storage section 36.

If the forward-skip operation section 21 has accepted the forwardreproduction-position skip instruction, the elapse-time decision section15 decides whether or not the elapse time clocked by the backward-skipelapse-time clocking section 14 has exceeded a predetermined time. Onthe other hand, if the backward-skip operation section 22 has acceptedthe backward reproduction-position skip instruction, it decides whetheror not the elapse time clocked by the forward-skip elapse-time clockingsection 13 has exceeded a predetermined time. Herein, such apredetermined time is stored beforehand in a given area inside of thememory 30.

If the elapse-time decision section 15 decides that the predeterminedtime has passed, the skip-time determination section 11 determines thenormal skip time Tns as the skip time. On the other hand, if theelapse-time decision section 15 decides that the predetermined time hasnot passed, it determines, as the skip time, the adjustment skip timeTas which is shorter than the normal skip time Tns.

Herein, in this embodiment, the forward-skip elapse-time clockingsection 13 corresponds to an example of the forward skip-operationelapse-time clocking means; the backward-skip elapse-time clockingsection 14, to an example of the backward skip-operation elapse-timeclocking means; the elapse-time decision section 15, to an example ofthe backward-skip deciding means, the forward-skip deciding means andthe deciding means; the normal skip-time storage section 33, to anexample of the first skip-time storing means; and the adjustmentskip-time storage section 34, to an example of the second skip-timestoring means.

Hereinafter, in the second embodiment, an operation will be described inthe case where the forward-skip operation section 21 or thebackward-skip operation section 22 is operated during a reproduction.

If an instruction is given from the forward-skip operation section 21,the elapse-time decision section 15 extracts the backward-skip elapsetime from the backward-skip elapse-time storage section 36. Then, itdecides whether or not the predetermined time or more has elapsed. Ifthe predetermined time or more has elapsed, the skip-time determinationsection 11 extracts the normal skip time Tns from the normal skip-timestorage section 33. Then, the reproduction control section 12 instructsthe reading control section 40 to move the reading position forward bythe normal skip time Tns.

On the other hand, unless the predetermined time or more has elapsed,the skip-time determination section 11 extracts the adjustment skip timeTas from the adjustment skip-time storage section 34. Then, thereproduction control section 12 instructs the reading control section 40to move the reading position forward by the adjustment skip time Tas.

In addition, if an instruction is given from the backward-skip operationsection 22, the elapse-time decision section 15 extracts theforward-skip elapse time from the forward-skip elapse-time storagesection 35. Then, it decides whether or not the predetermined time ormore has elapsed. If the predetermined time or more has elapsed, theskip-time determination section 11 extracts the normal skip time Tnsfrom the normal skip-time storage section 33. Then, the reproductioncontrol section 12 instructs the reading control section 40 to move thereading position backward by the normal skip time Tns.

On the other hand, unless the predetermined time or more has elapsed,the skip-time determination section 11 extracts the adjustment skip timeTas from the adjustment skip-time storage section 34. Then, thereproduction control section 12 instructs the reading control section 40to move the reading position forward by the adjustment skip time Tas.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart, showing the processing contents of thecontroller 10 of the DVD player according to the second embodiment shownin FIG. 6. It is made up of the processing from a step S21 to a stepS39. In the case where the forward-skip operation section 21 or thebackward-skip operation section 22 is operated during a reproduction,the operation state and processing contents will be described below.Herein, the processing from a step S21 to a step S26 shown in FIG. 7 isthe same as the processing from the step S1 to the step S6 shown in FIG.3. Thus, their description is omitted.

In a step S27, the reproduction control section 12 decides whether ornot a forward skip operation has been accepted. If the decision is madethat the forward skip operation has been accepted (YES in the step S27),then in a step S28, the elapse-time decision section 15 reads thebackward-skip elapse time stored in the backward-skip elapse-timestorage section 36.

Next, in a step S29, the elapse-time decision section 15 decides whetheror not the backward-skip elapse time read from the backward-skipelapse-time storage section 36 has exceeded a predetermined time.

If the decision is made that the backward-skip elapse time has exceededthe predetermined time (YES in the step S29), then in a step S30, theskip-time determination section 11 reads the normal skip time Tns storedbeforehand in the normal skip-time storage section 33. Then, itdetermines the normal skip time Tns as the forward reproduction-positionskip time. In this embodiment, the normal skip time Tns is set, forexample, at 15 seconds.

On the other hand, if the decision is made that the backward-skip elapsetime has not exceeded the predetermined time (NO in the step S29), thenin a step S31, the skip-time determination section 11 reads theadjustment skip time Tas stored beforehand in the adjustment skip-timestorage section 34. Then, it determines the adjustment skip time Tas asthe forward reproduction-position skip time. In this embodiment, theadjustment skip time Tas is set, for example, at five seconds.

If the normal skip time Tns is determined to be the forwardreproduction-position skip time, in a step S32, the reproduction controlsection 12 instructs the reading control section 40 to move the readingposition forward by the normal skip time Tns read from the normalskip-time storage section 33. The reading control section 40 calculatesthe reading position which corresponds to the reproduction positionwhich is the normal skip time Tns ahead of the current reproductionposition. Then, it instructs the DVD drive 50 to move the optical pickupto the reading position it has calculated. The DVD drive 50 drives theactuator and moves the optical pickup's reading position by the normalskip time Tns from the current reading position.

If the adjustment skip time Tas is determined to be the forwardreproduction-position skip time, in the step S32, the reproductioncontrol section 12 instructs the reading control section 40 to move thereading position forward by the adjustment skip time Tas read from theadjustment skip-time storage section 34. The reading control section 40calculates the reading position which corresponds to the reproductionposition which is the adjustment skip time Tas ahead of the currentreproduction position. Then, it instructs the DVD drive 50 to move theoptical pickup to the reading position it has calculated. The DVD drive50 drives the actuator and moves the optical pickup's reading positionby the adjustment skip time Tas from the current reading position.

Next, in a step S33, the forward-skip elapse-time clocking section 13clears the forward-skip elapse time stored in the forward-skipelapse-time storage section 35. Then, it starts to clock a forward-skipelapse time afresh. Sequentially, the processing returns to the step S22so that the reproduction is resumed.

On the other hand, if the decision is made that the forward skipoperation has been accepted, in other words, that the backward skipoperation has been accepted (NO in the step S27), then in a step S34,the elapse-time decision section 15 reads the forward-skip elapse timestored in the forward-skip elapse-time storage section 35.

Next, in a step S35, the elapse-time decision section 15 decides whetheror not the forward-skip elapse time read from the forward-skipelapse-time storage section 35 has exceeded a predetermined time.

If the decision is made that the forward-skip elapse time has exceededthe predetermined time (YES in the step S35), then in a step S36, theskip-time determination section 11 reads the normal skip time Tns storedbeforehand in the normal skip-time storage section 33. Then, itdetermines the normal skip time Tns as the backwardreproduction-position skip time.

On the other hand, if the decision is made that the forward-skip elapsetime has not exceeded the predetermined time (NO in the step S35), thenin a step S37, the skip-time determination section 11 reads theadjustment skip time Tas stored beforehand in the adjustment skip-timestorage section 34. Then, it determines the adjustment skip time Tas asthe backward reproduction-position skip time.

If the normal skip time Tns is determined to be the backwardreproduction-position skip time, in a step S38, the reproduction controlsection 12 instructs the reading control section 40 to move the readingposition backward by the normal skip time Tns read from the normalskip-time storage section 33. The reading control section 40 calculatesthe reading position which corresponds to the reproduction positionwhich is the normal skip time Tns behind the current reproductionposition. Then, it instructs the DVD drive 50 to move the optical pickupto the reading position it has calculated. The DVD drive 50 drives theactuator and moves the optical pickup's reading position by the normalskip time Tns from the current reading position.

If the adjustment skip time Tas is determined to be the backwardreproduction-position skip time, in the step S38, the reproductioncontrol section 12 instructs the reading control section 40 to move thereading position backward by the adjustment skip time Tas read from theadjustment skip-time storage section 34. The reading control section 40calculates the reading position which corresponds to the reproductionposition which is the adjustment skip time Tas behind the currentreproduction position. Then, it instructs the DVD drive 50 to move theoptical pickup to the reading position it has calculated. The DVD drive50 drives the actuator and moves the optical pickup's reading positionby the adjustment skip time Tas from the current reading position.

Next, in a step S39, the backward-skip elapse-time clocking section 14clears the backward-skip elapse time stored in the backward-skipelapse-time storage section 36. Then, it starts to clock a backward-skipelapse time anew. Sequentially, the processing returns to the step S22so that the reproduction is resumed.

As described so far, after a forward or backward skip instruction wasgiven, if an instruction has been given for a skip in the directionopposite to the preceding instruction within a predetermined time, thenan adjustment skip time is determined on which is shorter than a normalskip time in the case where an instruction has been given for a skip inthe direction opposite to the preceding instruction after thepredetermined time or more has elapsed. Therefore, in the case where auser executes a backward skip to watch the part which the user wants toview from its beginning after the user executes a forward skip to skipthe part which the user does not want to view, or in the case where auser executes a forward skip to watch the part which the user wants toview from its beginning after the user executes a backward skip toreturn to a position before the part which the user wants to view, theskip is executed for a shorter skip time. This makes it possible toshorten the waiting time until this part's head is reproduced.

Furthermore, a predetermined normal skip time is store in advance, andan adjustment skip time which is shorter than the normal skip time isstore in advance. If a forward reproduction-position skip instructionhas been accepted and if a clocked backward-skip elapse time hasexceeded a predetermined time, then the normal skip time storedbeforehand is chosen as the forward reproduction-position skip time.

On the other hand, if the forward reproduction-position skip instructionhas been accepted and if the clocked backward-skip elapse time has notexceeded the predetermined time, then the adjustment skip time storedbeforehand is chosen as the forward reproduction-position skip time.Further, if a backward reproduction-position skip instruction has beenaccepted and if a clocked forward-skip elapse time has exceeded apredetermined time, then the normal skip time stored beforehand ischosen as the backward reproduction-position skip time. Still Further,if the backward reproduction-position skip instruction has been acceptedand if the clocked forward-skip elapse time has not exceeded thepredetermined time, then the adjustment skip time stored beforehand ischosen as the backward reproduction-position skip time.

Therefore, after a forward skip instruction was given, if an instructionfor a backward skip has been given within a predetermined time, then anadjustment skip time is determined on which is shorter than in the casewhere a backward skip instruction has been given after the predeterminedtime or more has elapsed. Therefore, in the case where a user executes abackward skip to watch the part which the user wants to view from itsbeginning after the user executes a forward skip to skip the part whichthe user does not want to view, the skip is executed for a shorter skiptime. This makes it possible to shorten the waiting time until thispart's head is reproduced. Besides, after a backward skip instructionwas given, if an instruction for a forward skip has been given within apredetermined time, then an adjustment skip time is determined on whichis shorter than in the case where a forward skip instruction has beengiven after the predetermined time or more has elapsed. Therefore, inthe case where a user executes a forward skip to watch the part whichthe user wants to view from its beginning after the user executes abackward skip to return to a position before the part which the userwants to view, the skip is executed for a shorter skip time. This makesit possible to shorten the waiting time until this part's head isreproduced.

Incidentally, the above described description is given, as an example,in the case where the present invention is applied to a DVD player.However, the present invention can be implemented, in the same way, evenin a system which is capable of reading information from a record mediumother than a DVD disk and displaying it.

In addition, the normal skip time Tns and the adjustment skip time Tasnot necessarily need to be fixed values. They may also be variablevalues so that a user can set them. Furthermore, in this embodiment, theadjustment skip time Tas is set to be a smaller value than the normalskip time Tns. However, the present invention is not limited especiallyto this. The normal skip time Tns may also be set to be a smaller valuethan the adjustment skip time Tas.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, during a reproduction, if eitherinstruction for the forward reproduction-position skip or the backwardreproduction-position skip is accepted, then the reproduction is broughtto a stop, the position in which information is read from the recordmedium (i.e., DVD disk) is moved by the skip time determined by theskip-time determination section 11, and the reproduction is resumedafter the movement of the reading position has been completed. However,the present invention is not limited especially to this. In thisembodiment, if either instruction for the forward reproduction-positionskip or the backward reproduction-position skip is accepted at atemporary stop, then the position in which information is read from therecord medium (i.e., DVD disk) may also be moved by the skip timedetermined by the skip-time determination section 11. In that case, onlythe initial information is reproduced in the moved reading position.

Still further, the DVD player according to this embodiment includes theforward-skip elapse-time clocking section 13, the backward-skipelapse-time clocking section 14, the forward-skip elapse-time storagesection 35, and the backward-skip elapse-time storage section 36.However, the present invention is not limited especially to this. It mayalso be configured so as to include the forward-skip elapse-timeclocking section 13 and the forward-skip elapse-time storage section 35and so as not to include the backward-skip elapse-time clocking section14 and the backward-skip elapse-time storage section 36.

In this case, the time is clocked which has passed since an instructionfor a forward reproduction-position skip was last given. Then, if aninstruction is accepted for a backward reproduction-position skip, adecision is made whether or not the time which has elapsed since theforward reproduction-position skip instruction was last given hasexceeded a predetermined time. If the decision is made that the elapsetime has exceeded the predetermined time, the skip time is determinedfor a normal skip time. On the other hand, if the decision is made thatit has not exceeded the predetermined time, the skip time is determinedfor an adjustment skip time shorter than the normal skip time.

Furthermore, a predetermined normal skip time is store in advance, andan adjustment skip time which is shorter than the normal skip time isstore in advance. If a backward reproduction-position skip instructionhas been accepted and if a clocked forward-skip elapse time has exceededa predetermined time, then the normal skip time stored beforehand ischosen as the backward reproduction-position skip time. On the otherhand, if the backward reproduction-position skip instruction has beenaccepted and if the clocked forward-skip elapse time has not exceededthe predetermined time, then the adjustment skip time stored beforehandis chosen as the backward reproduction-position skip time.

Accordingly, after a forward skip instruction was given, if aninstruction for a backward skip has been given within a predeterminedtime, then an adjustment skip time is determined on which is shorterthan in the case where a backward skip instruction has been given afterthe predetermined time or more has elapsed. Therefore, in the case wherea user executes a backward skip to watch the part which the user wantsto view from its beginning after the user executes a forward skip toskip the part which the user does not want to view, the skip is executedfor a shorter skip time. This makes it possible to shorten the waitingtime until this part's head is reproduced.

Similarly, the DVD player according to this embodiment may also beconfigured so as to include the backward-skip elapse-time clockingsection 14 and the backward-skip elapse-time storage section 36 and soas not to include the forward-skip elapse-time clocking section 13 andthe forward-skip elapse-time storage section 35.

In this case, the time is clocked which has passed since an instructionfor a backward reproduction-position skip was last given. Then, if aninstruction is accepted for a forward reproduction-position skip, adecision is made whether or not the time which has elapsed since thebackward reproduction-position skip instruction was last given hasexceeded a predetermined time. If the decision is made that the elapsetime has exceeded the predetermined time, the skip time is determinedfor a normal skip time. On the other hand, if the decision is made thatit has not exceeded the predetermined time, the skip time is determinedfor an adjustment skip time shorter than the normal skip time.

Furthermore, a predetermined normal skip time is store in advance, andan adjustment skip time which is shorter than the normal skip time isstore in advance. If a forward reproduction-position skip instructionhas been accepted and if a clocked backward-skip elapse time hasexceeded a predetermined time, then the normal skip time storedbeforehand is chosen as the forward reproduction-position skip time. Onthe other hand, if the forward reproduction-position skip instructionhas been accepted and if the clocked backward-skip elapse time has notexceeded the predetermined time, then the adjustment skip time storedbeforehand is chosen as the forward reproduction-position skip time.

Therefore, after a backward skip instruction was given, if aninstruction for a forward skip has been given within a predeterminedtime, then an adjustment skip time is determined on which is shorterthan in the case where a forward skip instruction has been given afterthe predetermined time or more has elapsed. Therefore, in the case wherea user executes a forward skip to watch the part which the user wants toview from its beginning after the user executes a backward skip toreturn to a position before the part which the user wants to view, theskip is executed for a shorter skip time. This makes it possible toshorten the waiting time until this part's head is reproduced.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the normal skip time Tns is set, forexample, at 15 seconds and the adjustment skip time Tas is set, forexample, at five seconds. However, the present invention is not limitedespecially to this. Taking into account an operation delay time which istaken to confirm whether or not the part which a user wants to view hascome, the normal skip time Tns may also be set, for example, at 14seconds and the adjustment skip time Tas may also be set, for example,at six seconds.

Incidentally, the component elements according to this embodiment mayalso be realized by operating a program in a computer. Such a programmay also be recorded in a record medium.

Third Embodiment

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Inthe second embodiment, the time is clocked which has passed since aforward or backward skip operation. If an instruction has been given fora forward or backward skip operation, a decision is made whether or notthe elapse time since the skip operation in the direction opposite tothe former skip operation is within a predetermined time. Unless it iswithin the predetermined time, a normal skip time is determined on. Onthe other hand, if it is within the predetermined time, an adjustmentskip time which is shorter than the normal skip time is determined on.In contrast, in the third embodiment, when an instruction is given for aforward or backward skip operation, even though the elapse time sincethe skip operation in the direction opposite to the former skipoperation is within a predetermined time, if an adjustment skip time iscontinuously chosen at a predetermined number of times, then after that,a normal skip time is chosen.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram, showing a detailed configuration of a DVDplayer according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Theother component elements not shown in FIG. 8 are the same as those ofthe first embodiment and the second embodiment. In FIG. 8, the componentelements are given the same reference numerals as those of the firstembodiment and the second embodiment, as long as the former areidentical to the latter. Thus, their description is omitted. A memory 30includes: a normal skip-time storage section 33; an adjustment skip-timestorage section 34; a forward-skip elapse-time storage section 35; abackward-skip elapse-time storage section 36; a skip-direction storagesection 37; and a skip-number storage section 38.

The skip-direction storage section 37 stores a skip direction which islast accepted by the forward-skip operation section 21 or thebackward-skip operation section 22. The skip-number storage section 38stores the number of times at which an adjustment skip time iscontinuously determined by the skip-time determination section 11.

The skip-time determination section 11 chooses an adjustment skip time,if an instruction which is accepted by the forward-skip operationsection 21 or the backward-skip operation section 22 is in the oppositedirection to the skip direction stored in the skip-direction storagesection 37.

Furthermore, the skip-time determination section 11 chooses anadjustment skip time, if an instruction which is accepted by theforward-skip operation section 21 or the backward-skip operation section22 is for the same direction as the skip direction stored in theskip-direction storage section 37, and unless the number of times atwhich the adjustment skip time is continuously determined that is storedin the skip-number storage section 38 reaches a predetermined number oftimes.

Moreover, the skip-time determination section 11 chooses a normal skiptime, if an instruction which is accepted by the forward-skip operationsection 21 or the backward-skip operation section 22 is for the samedirection as the skip direction stored in the skip-direction storagesection 37, and if the number of times at which the adjustment skip timeis continuously determined that is stored in the skip-number storagesection 38 reaches the predetermined number of times.

Herein, in this embodiment, the skip-direction storage section 37corresponds to an example of the skip-direction storing means, and theskip-number storage section 38 corresponds to an example of theskip-number storing means.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart, showing the processing contents of a controller10 of the DVD player according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 8.Herein, in terms of the operation of the DVD player according to thethird embodiment shown in FIG. 9, its operation from the step S21 to thestep S26 is the same as that of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7.Thus, its illustration and description are omitted and only theprocessing of a step S27 (or a step S41) and its following steps isdescribed.

In a step S41, the reproduction control section 12 decides whether ornot a forward skip operation has been accepted. If the decision is madethat the forward skip operation has been accepted (YES in the step S41),then in a step S42, the elapse-time decision section 15 reads thebackward-skip elapse time stored in the backward-skip elapse-timestorage section 36.

Next, in a step S43, the elapse-time decision section 15 decides whetheror not the backward-skip elapse time read from the backward-skipelapse-time storage section 36 has exceeded a predetermined time.

If the decision is made that the backward-skip elapse time has exceededthe predetermined time (YES in the step S43), then in a step S44, theskip-time determination section 11 sets, to zero, the number of skipswhich is stored in the skip-number storage section 38. Next, in a stepS45, the skip-time determination section 11 reads the normal skip timeTns stored beforehand in the normal skip-time storage section 33. Then,it determines the normal skip time Tns as the forwardreproduction-position skip time. In this embodiment, the normal skiptime Tns is set, for example, at 15 seconds.

On the other hand, if the decision is made that the backward-skip elapsetime has not exceeded the predetermined time (NO in the step S43), thenin a step S46, the skip-time determination section 11 reads, from theskip-direction storage section 37, the skip direction for which aninstruction has last been given. Next, in a step S47, the skip-timedetermination section 11 decides whether or not the skip direction readfrom the skip-direction storage section 37 is the same as the skipdirection for which an instruction has been given by the forward-skipoperation section 21.

If the decision is made that the skip direction read from theskip-direction storage section 37 is the same as the skip direction forwhich the instruction has been given by the forward-skip operationsection 21 (YES in the step S47), then in a step S48, the skip-timedetermination section 11 reads, from the skip-number storage section 38,the number of times (i.e., the number of skips) at which the adjustmentskip time has been continuously determined. Next, in a step S49, theskip-time determination section 11 decides whether or not the number ofskips read from the skip-number storage section 38 is a predeterminednumber of times or above. In this embodiment, the predetermined numberof times is set, for example, at three.

If the decision is made that the number of skips is the predeterminednumber of times or above (YES in the step S49), then in a step S45, theskip-time determination section 11 reads the normal skip time Tns storedbeforehand in the normal skip-time storage section 33. Then, itdetermines the normal skip time Tns as the forward reproduction-positionskip time.

On the other hand, if the decision is made that the skip direction readfrom the skip-direction storage section 37 is not the same as the skipdirection for which the instruction has been given by the forward-skipoperation section 21 (NO in the step S47), or if the decision is madethat the number of skips is below the predetermined number of times (NOin the step S49), then in a step S50, the skip-time determinationsection 11 reads the adjustment skip time Tas stored beforehand in theadjustment skip-time storage section 34. Then, it determines theadjustment skip time Tas as the forward reproduction-position skip time.In this embodiment, the adjustment skip time Tas is set, for example, atfive seconds. Next, in a step S51, the reproduction control section 12executes an increment of one in the number of skips stored in theskip-number storage section 38.

If the normal skip time Tns is determined to be the forwardreproduction-position skip time, in a step S52, the reproduction controlsection 12 instructs the reading control section 40 to move the readingposition forward by the normal skip time Tns read from the normalskip-time storage section 33. In contrast, if the adjustment skip timeTas is determined to be the forward reproduction-position skip time, inthe step S52, the reproduction control section 12 instructs the readingcontrol section 40 to move the reading position forward by theadjustment skip time Tas read from the adjustment skip-time storagesection 34.

Next, in a step S53, the forward-skip elapse-time clocking section 13clears the forward-skip elapse time stored in the forward-skipelapse-time storage section 35. Then, it starts to clock a forward-skipelapse time afresh. Sequentially, in a step S54, the reproductioncontrol section 12 stores, in the skip-direction storage section 37, theforward skip as the last-accepted skip direction. Then, the processingreturns to the step S22 so that the reading control section 40 resumesthe reproduction.

On the other hand, if the decision is made that the forward skipoperation has been accepted, in other words, that the backward skipoperation has been accepted (NO in the step S41), then in a step S55,the elapse-time decision section 15 reads the forward-skip elapse timestored in the forward-skip elapse-time storage section 35. Next, in astep S56, the elapse-time decision section 15 decides whether or not theforward-skip elapse time read from the forward-skip elapse-time storagesection 35 has exceeded a predetermined time.

If the decision is made that the forward-skip elapse time has exceededthe predetermined time (YES in the step S56), then in a step S57, theskip-time determination section 11 sets, to zero, the number of skipswhich is stored in the skip-number storage section 38. Next, in a stepS58, the skip-time determination section 11 reads the normal skip timeTns stored beforehand in the normal skip-time storage section 33. Then,it determines the normal skip time Tns as the backwardreproduction-position skip time.

On the other hand, if the decision is made that the forward-skip elapsetime has not exceeded the predetermined time (NO in the step S56), thenin a step S59, the skip-time determination section 11 reads, from theskip-direction storage section 37, the skip direction for which aninstruction has last been given. Next, in a step S60, the skip-timedetermination section 11 decides whether or not the skip direction readfrom the skip-direction storage section 37 is the same as the skipdirection for which an instruction has been given by the backward-skipoperation section 22.

If the decision is made that the skip direction read from theskip-direction storage section 37 is the same as the skip direction forwhich the instruction has been given by the backward-skip operationsection 22 (YES in the step S60), then in a step S61, the skip-timedetermination section 11 reads, from the skip-number storage section 38,the number of times (i.e., the number of skips) at which the adjustmentskip time has been continuously determined. Next, in a step S62, theskip-time determination section 11 decides whether or not the number ofskips read from the skip-number storage section 38 is a predeterminednumber of times or above.

If the decision is made that the number of skips is the predeterminednumber of times or above (YES in the step S62), then in a step S58, theskip-time determination section 11 reads the normal skip time Tns storedbeforehand in the normal skip-time storage section 33. Then, itdetermines the normal skip time Tns as the backwardreproduction-position skip time.

On the other hand, if the decision is made that the skip direction readfrom the skip-direction storage section 37 is not the same as the skipdirection for which the instruction has been given by the backward-skipoperation section 22 (NO in the step S60), or if the decision is madethat the number of skips is below the predetermined number of times (NOin the step S62), then in a step S63, the skip-time determinationsection 11 reads the adjustment skip time Tas stored beforehand in theadjustment skip-time storage section 34. Then, it determines theadjustment skip time Tas as the backward reproduction-position skiptime. Next, in a step S64, the reproduction control section 12 executesan increment of one in the number of skips stored in the skip-numberstorage section 38.

If the normal skip time Tns is determined to be the backwardreproduction-position skip time, in a step S65, the reproduction controlsection 12 instructs the reading control section 40 to move the readingposition backward by the normal skip time Tns read from the normalskip-time storage section 33. In contrast, if the adjustment skip timeTas is determined to be the backward reproduction-position skip time, inthe step S65, the reproduction control section 12 instructs the readingcontrol section 40 to move the reading position backward by theadjustment skip time Tas read from the adjustment skip-time storagesection 34.

Next, in a step S66, the backward-skip elapse-time clocking section 14clears the backward-skip elapse time stored in the backward-skipelapse-time storage section 36. Then, it starts to clock a backward-skipelapse time afresh. Sequentially, in a step S67, the reproductioncontrol section 12 stores, in the skip-direction storage section 37, thebackward skip as the last-accepted skip direction. Then, the processingreturns to the step S22 so that the reading control section 40 resumesthe reproduction.

FIG. 10 is an illustration, showing an operation of the DVD playeraccording to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 10,each solid-line rightward arrow 301 a, 301 b, 301 c, 301 d, 301 e, 301f, 301 g, 301 h, 301 i, 301 j indicates a reproduction processing. Eachbroken-line rightward arrow 302 a, 302 b, 302 c indicates a forward skipprocessing, using a normal skip time. Each broken-line leftward arrow303 a, 303 b, 303 c indicates a backward skip processing, using anadjustment skip time. Each broken-line leftward arrow 304 a, 304 b, 304c indicates a backward skip processing, using the normal skip time. Inaddition, reference numeral Tfsn denotes a forward normal skip time;Tbsn, a backward normal skip time; and Tbsa, a backward adjustment skiptime.

When the pictures or voices recorded in the DVD disk are reproduced asshown by the solid-line rightward arrow 301 a, if the forward-skipoperation section 21 is operated, as shown by the broken-line rightwardarrow 302 a, then a forward skip is executed over the normal skip timeTfsn stored in the normal skip-time storage section 33. Then, when theyare reproduced as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 301 b, if theforward-skip operation section 21 is operated, as shown by thebroken-line rightward arrow 302 b, then a forward skip is executed overthe normal skip time Tfsn stored in the normal skip-time storage section33. Further, when they are reproduced as shown by the solid-linerightward arrow 301 c, if the forward-skip operation section 21 isoperated, as shown by the broken-line rightward arrow 302 c, then aforward skip is executed over the normal skip time Tfsn stored in thenormal skip-time storage section 33.

Next, when the generation is in execution as shown by the solid-linerightward arrow 301 d, in the case where a user moves the generationposition backward from the present generation position, in order to skipto the part which the user wants to watch, the user operates thebackward-skip operation section 22. Thereby, as shown by the broken-lineleftward arrow 303 a, a skip is executed over the adjustment skip timeTbsa stored in the adjustment skip-time storage section 34, and thereproduction is resumed as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 301e.

At this time, the user becomes aware that the reproduction is still inthe part which the user does not want to view. In order to skip to thepart which the user wants to watch, the user operates the backward-skipoperation section 22. Thereby, as shown by the broken-line leftwardarrow 303 b, a skip is executed over the adjustment skip time Tbsastored in the adjustment skip-time storage section 34, and thereproduction is resumed as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 301f.

Further, the user becomes aware that the reproduction is still in thepart which the user does not want to view. In order to skip to the partwhich the user wants to watch, the user operates the backward-skipoperation section 22. Thereby, as shown by the broken-line leftwardarrow 303 c, a skip is executed over the adjustment skip time Tbsastored in the adjustment skip-time storage section 34, and thereproduction is resumed as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 301g.

Herein, if a forward-skip elapse time is within a predetermined time,then the adjustment skip time Tbsa is supposed to be chosen, every timethe backward-skip operation section 22 is operated. If the part whichthe user wants to view is still behind, the user needs to operate thebackward-skip operation section 22 many times. This may make theoperation complicated. Therefore, the skip-time determination section 11according to the third embodiment chooses a normal skip time, if anadjustment skip time is chosen in series at a predetermined number oftimes.

Specifically, in the case where the predetermined number of times isset, for example, at three times, if the backward-skip operation section22 has been operated when the reproduction is executed as shown by thesolid-line rightward arrow 301 g, then the skip-time determinationsection 11 decides that the instruction accepted by the backward-skipoperation section 22 is for the same direction as the skip directionstored in the skip-direction storage section 37. Then, the skip-timedetermination section 11 decides that the number of times at which anadjustment skip time has been continuously determined which is stored inthe skip-number storage section 38 has reached a predetermined number oftimes. Hence, it chooses a normal skip time. Thereby, as shown by thebroken-line leftward arrow 304 a, a skip is executed over the normalskip time Tbsn stored in the normal skip-time storage section 33, andthe reproduction is resumed as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow301 h.

Unless the reproduction position at this time is the reproductionposition of the part which the user wants to view, the backward-skipoperation section 22 is repeatedly operated so that it comes behind thereproduction position which the user wants. Thereby, as shown by thebroken-line leftward arrows 304 b and 304 c, a backward skip is executedover the normal skip time Tbsn stored in the normal skip-time storagesection 33, and the reproduction is resumed as shown by the solid-linerightward arrow 301 j.

In this way, the last-accepted skip direction is stored, and the numberof times at which the adjustment skip time has been continuouslydetermined is stored. Then, if the accepted instruction is for thedirection opposite to the stored skip direction, the adjustment skiptime is chosen. On the other hand, if the accepted instruction is forthe same direction as the stored skip direction and if the stored numberof times at which the adjustment skip time has been continuouslydetermined has not reached the predetermined number of times, then theadjustment skip time is chosen. Further, if the accepted instruction isfor the same direction as the stored skip direction and if the storednumber of times at which the adjustment skip time has been continuouslydetermined has reached the predetermined number of times, then thenormal skip time is chosen.

Accordingly, after a forward or backward skip instruction was given, ifan instruction has been given for a skip in the direction opposite tothe preceding one within a predetermined time, then an adjustment skiptime is determined on which is shorter than in the case where aninstruction has been given for a skip in the direction opposite to thepreceding one after the predetermined time or more has elapsed. Incontrast, if a skip operation has been continuously executed over theadjustment skip time at the predetermined number of times or more timesin the same direction, a skip operation is executed over a normal skiptime which is longer than the adjustment skip time. Therefore, even ifthe head of the part which the user wants to view is located fartherthan the position at the time when the skip operation has beencontinuously executed over the adjustment skip time at the predeterminednumber of times in the same direction, then the reproduction positioncan be quickly moved to the head of the part which the user wants towatch.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Inthe fourth embodiment, after the preceding skip operation has beencompleted, the reproduction time is clocked until the following skipoperation. If the following skip operation is a forwardreproduction-position skip, the time which is obtained by subtractingthe reproduction time from a normal skip time is determined on as theskip time. On the other hand, if the following skip operation is abackward reproduction-position skip, the time which is obtained byadding the reproduction time to an adjustment skip time is determined onas the skip time.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram, showing the configuration of a DVD playeraccording to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The othercomponent elements not shown in FIG. 11 are the same as those of thefirst embodiment, the second embodiment and the third embodiment. InFIG. 11, the component elements are given the same reference numerals asthose of the first embodiment, the second embodiment and the thirdembodiment, as long as the former are identical to the latter. Thus,their description is omitted.

A memory 30 includes: a normal skip-time storage section 33; anadjustment skip-time storage section 34; a forward-skip elapse-timestorage section 35; a backward-skip elapse-time storage section 36; anda reproduction-time storage section 39. A controller 10 includes: askip-time determination section 11; a reproduction control section 12;the forward-skip elapse-time clocking section 13; the backward-skipelapse-time clocking section 14; an elapse-time decision section 15; anda reproduction-time clocking section 16.

The reproduction-time storage section 39 stores the reproduction timefrom the last skip-operation completion time to the next skip-operationstart time. The reproduction-time clocking section 16 clocks thereproduction time from the last skip-operation completion time to thenext skip-operation start time. Then, it stores it in thereproduction-time storage section 39.

If the next skip operation is a forward reproduction-position skip, theskip-time determination section 11 determines, as the skip time, thetime which is obtained by subtracting the reproduction time clocked bythe reproduction-time clocking section 16 from a normal skip time. Onthe other hand, if the next skip operation is a backwardreproduction-position skip, the skip-time determination section 11determines, as the skip time, the time which is obtained by adding thereproduction time clocked by the reproduction-time clocking section 16to an adjustment skip time. Herein, in this embodiment, thereproduction-time clocking section 16 corresponds to an example of thereproduction-time clocking means.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart, showing the processing contents of thecontroller 10 of the DVD player according to the fourth embodiment shownin FIG. 11. Herein, in terms of the operation of the DVD playeraccording to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 12, its operation fromthe step S21 to the step S26 is the same as that of the secondembodiment shown in FIG. 7. Thus, its illustration and description areomitted and only the processing of a step S27 (or a step S71) and itsfollowing steps is described.

In a step S71, the reproduction control section 12 decides whether ornot a forward skip operation has been accepted. If the decision is madethat the forward skip operation has been accepted (YES in the step S71),then in a step S72, the elapse-time decision section 15 reads thebackward-skip elapse time stored in the backward-skip elapse-timestorage section 36. Next, in a step S73, the elapse-time decisionsection 15 decides whether or not the backward-skip elapse time readfrom the backward-skip elapse-time storage section 36 has exceeded apredetermined time.

If the decision is made that the backward-skip elapse time has exceededthe predetermined time (YES in the step S73), then in a step S74, theskip-time determination section 11 reads the normal skip time Tns storedbeforehand in the normal skip-time storage section 33. In thisembodiment, the normal skip time Tns is set, for example, at 15 seconds.Sequentially, in a step S75, the skip-time determination section 11reads the reproduction time t stored in the reproduction-time storagesection 39.

Next, in a step S76, the skip-time determination section 11 determines,as the skip time, the time which is left when the reproduction time tread from the reproduction-time storage section 39 is subtracted fromthe normal skip time Tns read from the normal skip-time storage section33. At this time, the normal skip time Tns is a greater value than thereproduction time t.

On the other hand, if the decision is made that the backward-skip elapsetime has not exceeded the predetermined time (NO in the step S73), thenin a step S77, the skip-time determination section 11 reads theadjustment skip time Tas stored beforehand in the adjustment skip-timestorage section 34. In this embodiment, the adjustment skip time Tas isset, for example, at five seconds. Sequentially, in a step S78, theskip-time determination section 11 reads the reproduction time t storedin the reproduction-time storage section 39.

Next, in a step S79, the skip-time determination section 11 determines,as the skip time, the time which is left when the reproduction timetread from the reproduction-time storage section 39 is subtracted fromthe adjustment skip time Tas read from the adjustment skip-time storagesection 34. At this time, the adjustment skip time Tas is longer thanthe reproduction time t.

If the forward reproduction-position skip time is determined for thetime left when the reproduction time t is subtracted from the normalskip time Tns, in a step S80, the reproduction control section 12instructs the reading control section 40 to move the reading positionforward by the time which is obtained by subtracting the reproductiontime t from the normal skip time Tns read from the normal skip-timestorage section 33. On the other hand, if the forwardreproduction-position skip time is determined for the time left when thereproduction time t is subtracted from the adjustment skip time Tas, ina step S80, the reproduction control section 12 instructs the readingcontrol section 40 to move the reading position forward by the timewhich is obtained by subtracting the reproduction time t from theadjustment skip time Tas read from the adjustment skip-time storagesection 34.

Next, in a step S81, the forward-skip elapse-time clocking section 13clears the forward-skip elapse time stored in the forward-skipelapse-time storage section 35. Then, it starts to clock a forward-skipelapse time afresh. Sequentially, in a step S82, the reproduction-timeclocking section 16 clears the reproduction time t stored in thereproduction-time storage section 39. Then, the processing returns tothe step S22 and the reading control section 40 resumes thereproduction. If the reproduction is resumed, the reproduction-timeclocking section 16 begins to clock the reproduction time t.

On the other hand, if the decision is made that the forward skipoperation has been accepted, in other words, that the backward skipoperation has been accepted (NO in the step S71), then in a step S83,the elapse-time decision section 15 reads the forward-skip elapse timestored in the forward-skip elapse-time storage section 35. Next, in astep S84, the elapse-time decision section 15 decides whether or not theforward-skip elapse time read from the forward-skip elapse-time storagesection 35 has exceeded a predetermined time.

If the decision is made that the forward-skip elapse time has exceededthe predetermined time (YES in the step S84), then in a step S85, theskip-time determination section 11 reads the normal skip time Tns storedbeforehand in the normal skip-time storage section 33. Sequentially, ina step S86, the skip-time determination section 11 reads thereproduction time t stored in the reproduction-time storage section 39.

Next, in a step S87, the skip-time determination section 11 determines,as the skip time, the time which is made when the reproduction timetread from the reproduction-time storage section 39 is added to thenormal skip time Tns read from the normal skip-time storage section 33.

On the other hand, if the decision is made that the backward-skip elapsetime has not exceeded the predetermined time (NO in the step S84), thenin a step S88, the skip-time determination section 11 reads theadjustment skip time Tas stored beforehand in the adjustment skip-timestorage section 34. Sequentially, in a step S89, the skip-timedetermination section 11 reads the reproduction time t stored in thereproduction-time storage section 39.

Next, in a step S90, the skip-time determination section 11 determines,as the skip time, the time made when the reproduction time t read fromthe reproduction-time storage section 39 is added to the adjustment skiptime Tas read from the adjustment skip-time storage section 34.

If the backward reproduction-position skip time is determined for thetime made when the reproduction time t is added to the normal skip timeTns, in a step S91, the reproduction control section 12 instructs thereading control section 40 to move the reading position backward by thetime which is obtained by adding the reproduction time t to the normalskip time Tns read from the normal skip-time storage section 33. On theother hand, if the backward reproduction-position skip time isdetermined for the time made when the reproduction time t is added tothe adjustment skip time Tas, in a step S91, the reproduction controlsection 12 instructs the reading control section 40 to move the readingposition backward by the time which is obtained by adding thereproduction time t to the adjustment skip time Tas read from theadjustment skip-time storage section 34.

Next, in a step S92, the backward-skip elapse-time clocking section 14clears the backward-skip elapse time stored in the backward-skipelapse-time storage section 36. Then, it starts to clock a backward-skipelapse time afresh. Sequentially, in a step S93, the reproduction-timeclocking section 16 clears the reproduction time t stored in thereproduction-time storage section 39. Then, the processing returns tothe step S22 and the reading control section 40 resumes thereproduction. If the reproduction is resumed, the reproduction-timeclocking section 16 begins to clock the reproduction time t.

In this way, the reproduction time is clocked from the lastskip-operation completion time to the next skip-operation start time. Ifthe next skip operation is a forward reproduction-position skip, thetime which is obtained by subtracting the clocked reproduction time fromthe normal skip time is determined on as the skip time. On the otherhand, if the next skip operation is a backward reproduction-positionskip, the time which is obtained by adding the clocked reproduction timeto the adjustment skip time is determined on as the skip time.Therefore, the skip time can be determined, taking into account thereproduction time which a user takes to confirm whether a skip has beenexecuted to the part which the user wants to view.

FIG. 13 is an illustration, showing an operation of the DVD playeraccording to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 13,each solid-line rightward arrow 401 a, 401 b, 401 c, 401 d, 401 e, 401f, 401 g, 401 h, 401 i indicates a reproduction processing. Eachbroken-line rightward arrow 402 a, 402 b, 402 c indicates a forward skipprocessing, using a normal skip time. Each broken-line leftward arrow403 a, 403 b, 403 c, 403 d, 403 e indicates a backward skip processing,using an adjustment skip time. In addition, reference numeral Tfsndenotes a forward normal skip time; Tbsa, a backward adjustment skiptime; and t, a reproduction time.

When the pictures or voices recorded in the DVD disk are reproduced asshown by the solid-line rightward arrow 401 a, if the forward-skipoperation section 21 is operated, as shown by the broken-line rightwardarrow 402 a, then a forward skip is executed over the normal skip timeTfsn stored in the normal skip-time storage section 33. Then, when theyare reproduced as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 401 b, if theforward-skip operation section 21 is operated, as shown by thebroken-line rightward arrow 402 b, then a forward skip is executed overthe time (Tfsn-t) which is obtained by subtracting the reproduction timet from the normal skip time Tfsn stored in the normal skip-time storagesection 33. Further, when they are reproduced as shown by the solid-linerightward arrow 401 c, if the forward-skip operation section 21 isoperated, as shown by the broken-line rightward arrow 402 c, then aforward skip is executed over the time (Tfsn-t) obtained by subtractingthe reproduction time t from the normal skip time Tfsn stored in thenormal skip-time storage section 33.

Next, when the generation is in execution as shown by the solid-linerightward arrow 401 d, in the case where a user moves the generationposition backward from the present generation position, in order to skipto the part which the user wants to watch, the user operates thebackward-skip operation section 22. Thereby, as shown by the broken-lineleftward arrow 403 a, a skip is executed over the time (Tbsa+t) which isobtained by adding the reproduction time t to the adjustment skip timeTbsa stored in the adjustment skip-time storage section 34, and thereproduction is resumed as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 401e.

At this time, the user becomes aware that the reproduction is still inthe part which the user does not want to view. In order to skip to thepart which the user wants to watch, the user operates the backward-skipoperation section 22. Thereby, as shown by the broken-line leftwardarrow 403 b, a skip is executed over the time (Tbsa+t) obtained byadding the reproduction time t to the adjustment skip time Tbsa storedin the adjustment skip-time storage section 34, and the reproduction isresumed as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 401 f.

Unless the reproduction position at this time is the reproductionposition of the part which the user wants to view, the backward-skipoperation section 22 is repeatedly operated so that it comes behind thereproduction position which the user wants. Thereby, as shown by thebroken-line leftward arrow 403 c, 403 d, 403 e, a skip is executed overthe time (Tbsa+t) which is obtained by adding the reproduction time t tothe adjustment skip time Tbsa stored in the adjustment skip-time storagesection 34, and the reproduction is resumed as shown by the solid-linerightward arrow 401 i.

FIG. 14 is an illustration, showing a concrete operation of the DVDplayer according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG.14A is an illustration, showing a television program which is stored ina DVD disk that is set in the DVD drive 50. FIG. 14B is an illustration,showing a reproduction and a skip. In FIG. 14A, a belt 510 indicates thetelevision program recorded in the DVD disk; white belts 501, 505, thetelevision program itself; and hatched belts 502, 503, 504, commercialmessages (or CMs). The time of each commercial message is 15 seconds.

In FIG. 14B, each solid-line rightward arrow 504 a, 504 b, 504 c, 504 d,504 e indicates a reproduction processing. Each broken-line rightwardarrow 505 a, 505 b, 505 c indicates a forward skip processing. Abroken-line leftward arrow 506 indicates a backward skip processing.

Herein, let's assume that the part which a user wants to watch is atelevision program itself and the part which the user does not want towatch is a commercial message. In the television program 510 recorded inthe DVD disk, as an example, by taking up the operation for skipping thecommercial messages 502, 503, 504, an operation will be described aboutthe DVD player according to the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 14B, the forward normal skip time Tfsn is 15 secondsand the backward adjustment skip time Tbsa is five seconds.

When the television program itself 501 recorded in the DVD disk isreproduced as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 504 a, in theposition shown by timing T501 which is two seconds after the beginningof the commercial message 502, the user notices that the commercialmessage 502 has come. In order to skip to the television program itself505, the user operates the forward-skip operation section 21. Thereby,as shown by the broken-line rightward arrow 505 a, a skip is executedover the forward normal skip time Tfsn stored in the normal skip-timestorage section 33, and from the position shown by timing T502, thereproduction is resumed as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 504b. At this time, the time from the timing T501 to the timing T502 is 15seconds.

Next, in the position shown by timing T503 after the elapse of twoseconds from the timing T502, the user becomes aware that thereproduction is still in the commercial message 503. In order to skip tothe television program itself 505, the user further operates theforward-skip operation section 21. Thereby, as shown by the broken-linerightward arrow 505 b, a skip is executed over the time which isobtained by subtracting the reproduction time t from the forward normalskip time Tfsn stored in the forward normal skip-time storage section33, Then, from the position shown by timing T504, the reproduction isresumed as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 504 c. At this time,the time from the timing T502 to the timing T504 is 15 seconds.

Sequentially, in the position shown by timing T505 after the elapse oftwo seconds from the timing T504, the user becomes aware that thereproduction is still in the commercial message 504. In order to skip tothe television program itself 505, the user further operates theforward-skip operation section 21. Thereby, as shown by the broken-linerightward arrow 505 c, a skip is executed over the time which isobtained by subtracting the reproduction time t from the forward normalskip time Tfsn stored in the normal skip-time storage section 33. Then,from the position shown by timing T506, the reproduction is resumed asshown by the solid-line rightward arrow 504 d. At this time, the timefrom the timing T504 to the timing T506 is 15 seconds.

Next, in the position shown by timing T507 after the elapse of twoseconds from the timing T506, the user becomes aware that a skip hasbeen executed to the television program itself 505. In order to view thetelevision program itself 505 from the beginning shown by timing T509,the user operates the backward-skip operation section 22. Thereby, asshown by the broken-line leftward arrow 506, a skip is executed over thetime which is obtained by adding the reproduction time t to the backwardadjustment skip time Tbsa stored in the adjustment skip-time storagesection 34. Then, from the position shown by timing T508, thereproduction is resumed as shown by the solid-line rightward arrow 504e. At this time, the time from the timing T507 to the timing T508 isseven seconds. In the reproduction state, the user waits to reach thehead of the television program itself 505 for a period Tw6 (i.e., threeseconds) from the timing T508 to the timing T509. Then, the user watchesthe television program itself 505.

Herein, in this embodiment, if the reproduction time t is within thenormal skip time Tfsn (or the adjustment skip time), a forward skip isexecuted over the time obtained by subtracting the reproduction time tfrom the normal skip time Tfsn (or the adjustment skip time). However,the present invention is not limited especially to this. The skip-timedetermination section 11 decides whether or not the reproduction time tis within a predetermined time. If it is within the predetermined time,it may also determine, as the skip time, the time which is obtained bysubtracting the reproduction time t from the normal skip time Tfsn (orthe adjustment skip time). On the other hand, unless it is within thepredetermined time, it may also determine the normal skip time Tfsn (orthe adjustment skip time) as the skip time.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the next skip operation is a forwardreproduction-position skip, the skip-time determination section 11determines, as the skip time, the time which is obtained by subtractingthe clocked reproduction time from the normal skip time. On the otherhand, if the next skip operation is a backward reproduction-positionskip, the skip-time determination section 11 determines, as the skiptime, the time which is obtained by adding the clocked reproduction timeto the adjustment skip time. However, the present invention is notlimited especially to this. If the next skip operation is a forwardreproduction-position skip, the skip-time determination section 11 mayalso determine, as the skip time, the time which is obtained bysubtracting the clocked reproduction time from the normal skip time. Onthe other hand, if the next skip operation is a backwardreproduction-position skip, the skip-time determination section 11 mayalso determine the adjustment skip time as the skip time.

Moreover, if the next skip operation is a forward reproduction-positionskip, the skip-time determination section 11 may also determine thenormal skip time as the skip time. On the other hand, if the next skipoperation is a backward reproduction-position skip, the skip-timedetermination section 11 may also determine, as the skip time, the timewhich is obtained by adding the clocked reproduction time to theadjustment skip time.

Incidentally, the above described specific embodiments mainly includethe invention which has the following configurations.

A reproduction apparatus according to the present invention,characterized by including: a reproducing means for reading informationstored in a record medium and reproducing this information; askip-operation accepting means for arbitrarily accepting eitherinstruction for a forward reproduction-position skip or a backwardreproduction-position skip; a skip-time determining means for making askip time for either of the forward reproduction-position skip and thebackward reproduction-position skip longer than a skip time for theother, and determining a skip time based on either of the instructionfor the forward reproduction-position skip and the instruction for thebackward reproduction-position skip which is accepted by theskip-operation accepting means; and a controlling means for, if theskip-operation accepting means accepts either instruction for theforward reproduction-position skip or the backward reproduction-positionskip during a reproduction in the reproducing means, then stopping thereproduction in the reproducing means, moving the position in which thereproducing means reads information from the record medium by the skiptime determined by the skip-time determining means, and resuming thereproduction after the movement of the reading position is completed.

A reproduction method according to the present invention, characterizedby including: a reproducing step of reading information stored in arecord medium and reproducing this information; a skip-operationaccepting step of arbitrarily accepting either instruction for a forwardreproduction-position skip or a backward reproduction-position skip; askip-time determining step of making a skip time for either of theforward reproduction-position skip and the backwardreproduction-position skip longer than a skip time for the other, anddetermining a skip time based on either of the instruction for theforward reproduction-position skip and the instruction for the backwardreproduction-position skip which is accepted in the skip-operationaccepting step; and a controlling step of, if either instruction for theforward reproduction-position skip or the backward reproduction-positionskip is accepted during a reproduction, then stopping the reproduction,moving the position in which information is read from the record mediumby the skip time determined in the skip-time determining step, andresuming the reproduction after the movement of the reading position iscompleted.

A reproduction program according to the present invention, characterizedby allowing a computer to function as: a reproducing means for readinginformation stored in a record medium and reproducing this information;a skip-operation accepting means for arbitrarily accepting eitherinstruction for a forward reproduction-position skip or a backwardreproduction-position skip; a skip-time determining means for making askip time for either of the forward reproduction-position skip and thebackward reproduction-position skip longer than a skip time for theother, and determining a skip time based on either of the instructionfor the forward reproduction-position skip and the instruction for thebackward reproduction-position skip which is accepted by theskip-operation accepting means; and a controlling means for, if theskip-operation accepting means accepts either instruction for theforward reproduction-position skip or the backward reproduction-positionskip during a reproduction in the reproducing means, then stopping thereproduction in the reproducing means, moving the position in which thereproducing means reads information from the record medium by the skiptime determined by the skip-time determining means, and resuming thereproduction after the movement of the reading position is completed.

A computer-readable record medium in which a reproduction program isstored according to the present invention, characterized by allowing acomputer to function as: a reproducing means for reading informationstored in a record medium and reproducing this information; askip-operation accepting means for arbitrarily accepting eitherinstruction for a forward reproduction-position skip or a backwardreproduction-position skip; a skip-time determining means for making askip time for either of the forward reproduction-position skip and thebackward reproduction-position skip longer than a skip time for theother, and determining a skip time based on either of the instructionfor the forward reproduction-position skip and the instruction for thebackward reproduction-position skip which is accepted by theskip-operation accepting means; and a controlling means for, if theskip-operation accepting means accepts either instruction for theforward reproduction-position skip or the backward reproduction-positionskip during a reproduction in the reproducing means, then stopping thereproduction in the reproducing means, moving the position in which thereproducing means reads information from the record medium by the skiptime determined by the skip-time determining means, and resuming thereproduction after the movement of the reading position is completed.

According to this configuration, information stored in a record mediumis read and this information is reproduced. Then, either instruction fora forward reproduction-position skip or a backward reproduction-positionskip is arbitrarily accepted. Next, a skip time for either of theforward reproduction-position skip and the backwardreproduction-position skip is made longer than a skip time for theother, and a skip time is determined based on either of the instructionfor the forward reproduction-position skip and the instruction for thebackward reproduction-position skip which has been accepted. During areproduction, if either instruction for the forwardreproduction-position skip or the backward reproduction-position skip isaccepted, then the reproduction is brought to a stop, the position inwhich information is read from the record medium is moved by thedetermined skip time, and the reproduction is resumed after the movementof the reading position has been completed.

In this way, the skip time is determined based on whether the acceptedskip is forward or backward. Besides, the skip time for either of theforward reproduction-position skip and the backwardreproduction-position skip is made longer than the skip time for theother. Accordingly, the forward skip time becomes longer than thebackward skip time. In order to skip the part which a user does not wantto view, the user repeatedly gives an instruction for the forward skip.Thereafter, the user executes the backward skip, so that the user canwatch the part which the user wants to view, from its beginning. In thiscase, the skip time is determined so that the backward skip time becomesshorter than the forward skip time. This helps shorten the user'swaiting time until the head of the part which the user wants to view isreproduced.

Furthermore, in the above described reproduction apparatus, it ispreferable that if the skip-operation accepting means accepts eitherinstruction for the forward reproduction-position skip or the backwardreproduction-position skip during a temporary stop in the reproducingmeans, then the controlling means move the position in which thereproducing means reads information from the record medium by the skiptime determined by the skip-time determining means, and reproduce onlythe first information in the reading position after the movement.

According to this configuration, if either instruction for the forwardreproduction-position skip or the backward reproduction-position skip isaccepted at a temporary stop, then the position in which information isread from the record medium is moved by the determined skip time. Then,only the initial information is reproduced in the moved readingposition. Therefore, a user can confirm a picture which is displayed ata temporary stop and skip the reproduction position simultaneously.Hence, there is no need for the reproduction time which is taken toconfirm the reproduction position after the skip operation.

Moreover, in the above described reproduction apparatus, preferably: thereproduction apparatus should further include, a forward skip-timestoring means for storing the forward reproduction-position skip time inadvance, and a backward skip-time storing means for storing the backwardreproduction-position skip time in advance; and if the skip-operationaccepting means accepts the forward reproduction-position skipinstruction, the skip-time determining means should choose the forwardreproduction-position skip time stored in the forward skip-time storingmeans, and if the skip-operation accepting means accepts the backwardreproduction-position skip instruction, the skip-time determining meansshould choose the backward reproduction-position skip time stored in thebackward skip-time storing means.

According to this configuration, the forward reproduction-position skiptime is stored in advance and the backward reproduction-position skiptime is stored beforehand. Then, if a forward skip instruction isaccepted, the forward reproduction-position skip time stored in advanceis chosen. In contrast, if a backward reproduction-position skipinstruction is accepted, the backward reproduction-position skip timestored beforehand is chosen. In sum, the skip time which is stored inadvance is chosen. Therefore, the skip time which corresponds to theforward or backward reproduction-position skip operation can be easilydetermined.

In addition, in the above described reproduction apparatus, it ispreferable that the forward skip-time storing means store in advance theforward reproduction-position skip time which is a greater value thanthe backward reproduction-position skip time stored in advance in thebackward skip-time storing means.

According to this configuration, the value of the forwardreproduction-position skip time is greater than that of the backwardreproduction-position skip time, and they are stored beforehand.Thereafter, the user executes the backward skip, so that the user canwatch the part which the user wants to view, from its beginning. In thiscase, the skip time is determined so that the backward skip time becomesshorter than the forward skip time. This helps shorten the user'swaiting time until the beginning of the part which the user wants toview is reproduced.

Furthermore, in the above described reproduction apparatus, preferably,the backward skip-time storing means should store in advance thebackward reproduction-position skip time which is a greater value thanthe forward reproduction-position skip time stored in advance in theforward skip-time storing means.

According to this configuration, the backward reproduction-position skiptime is stored in advance which is a greater value than the forwardreproduction-position skip time. Therefore, in order to skip the partwhich a user does not want to view, the user repeatedly gives aninstruction for the backward skip. Thereafter, the user executes theforward skip, so that the user can watch the part which the user wantsto view, from its beginning. In this case, the skip time is determinedso that the forward skip time becomes shorter than the backward skiptime. Hence, the part which the user wants to view can be prevented frombeing reproduced after passing its beginning. Therefore, the user caneasily pinpoint the head of the part which the user wants to view.

Moreover, in the above described reproduction apparatus, it ispreferable that: the reproduction apparatus further include, a forwardskip-operation elapse-time clocking means for clocking the time whichelapses after the last instruction is given for the forwardreproduction-position skip, and a backward-skip deciding means fordeciding whether or not the elapse time clocked by the forwardskip-operation elapse-time clocking means has exceeded a predeterminedtime, if the skip-operation accepting means accepts the backwardreproduction-position skip instruction; and if the backward-skipdeciding means decides that the predetermined time has elapsed, theskip-time determining means determine a predetermined first skip time,and if the backward-skip deciding means decides that the predeterminedtime had not elapsed, the skip-time determining means determine a secondskip time shorter than the first skip time.

According to this configuration, the time is clocked which has passedsince an instruction for a forward reproduction-position skip was lastgiven. Then, if an instruction is accepted for a backwardreproduction-position skip, a decision is made whether or not the timewhich has elapsed since the forward reproduction-position skipinstruction was last given has exceeded a predetermined time. If thedecision is made that the elapse time has exceeded the predeterminedtime, the skip time is determined for the predetermined first skip time.On the other hand, if the decision is made that it has not exceeded thepredetermined time, the skip time is determined for the second skip timeshorter than the first skip time.

Accordingly, after a forward skip instruction was given, if aninstruction for a backward skip has been given within a predeterminedtime, then the second skip time is determined on which is shorter thanin the case where a backward skip instruction has been given after thepredetermined time or more has elapsed. Therefore, in the case where auser executes a backward skip to watch the part which the user wants toview from its beginning after the user executes a forward skip to skipthe part which the user does not want to view, the skip is executed fora shorter skip time. This makes it possible to shorten the waiting timeuntil this part's head is reproduced.

In addition, in the above described reproduction apparatus, preferably:the reproduction apparatus should further include, a first skip-timestoring means for storing the predetermined first skip time in advance,and a second skip-time storing means for storing in advance the secondskip time shorter than the first skip time; and the skip-timedetermining means, if the skip-operation accepting means accepts thebackward reproduction-position skip instruction and if the forwardskip-operation elapse time clocked by the forward skip-operationelapse-time clocking means has exceeded the predetermined time, thenshould choose the first skip time stored in advance in the firstskip-time storing means as the backward reproduction-position skip time,and if the skip-operation accepting means accepts the backwardreproduction-position skip instruction and if the forward skip-operationelapse time clocked by the forward skip-operation elapse-time clockingmeans has not exceeded the predetermined time, then should choose thesecond skip time stored in advance in the second skip-time storing meansas the backward reproduction-position skip time.

According to this configuration, the predetermined first skip time isstore in advance, and the second skip time which is shorter than thefirst skip time is store in advance. If a backward reproduction-positionskip instruction has been accepted and if the clocked forwardskip-operation elapse time has exceeded a predetermined time, then thefirst skip time stored beforehand is chosen as the backwardreproduction-position skip time. On the other hand, if the backwardreproduction-position skip instruction has been accepted and if theclocked forward skip-operation elapse time has not exceeded thepredetermined time, then the second skip time stored beforehand ischosen as the backward reproduction-position skip time.

Accordingly, after a forward skip instruction was given, if aninstruction for a backward skip has been given within a predeterminedtime, then a second skip time is determined on which is shorter than inthe case where a backward skip instruction has been given after thepredetermined time or more has elapsed. Therefore, in the case where auser executes a backward skip to watch the part which the user wants toview from its beginning after the user executes a forward skip to skipthe part which the user does not want to view, the skip is executed fora shorter skip time. This makes it possible to shorten the waiting timeuntil this part's head is reproduced.

Furthermore, in the above described reproduction apparatus, it ispreferable that: the reproduction apparatus further include, a backwardskip-operation elapse-time clocking means for clocking the time whichelapses after the last instruction is given for the backwardreproduction-position skip, and a forward-skip deciding means fordeciding whether or not the elapse time clocked by the backwardskip-operation elapse-time clocking means has exceeded a predeterminedtime, if the skip-operation accepting means accepts the forwardreproduction-position skip instruction; and if the forward-skip decidingmeans decides that the predetermined time has elapsed, the skip-timedetermining means determine a predetermined first skip time, and if theforward-skip deciding means decides that the predetermined time had notelapsed, the skip-time determining means determine a second skip timeshorter than the first skip time.

According to this configuration, the time is clocked which has passedsince an instruction for a backward reproduction-position skip was lastgiven. Then, if an instruction is accepted for a forwardreproduction-position skip, a decision is made whether or not the timewhich has elapsed since the backward reproduction-position skipinstruction was last given has exceeded a predetermined time. If thedecision is made that the elapse time has exceeded the predeterminedtime, the skip time is determined for the predetermined first skip time.On the other hand, if the decision is made that it has not exceeded thepredetermined time, the skip time is determined for the second skip timeshorter than the first skip time.

Therefore, after a backward skip instruction was given, if aninstruction for a forward skip has been given within a predeterminedtime, then a second skip time is determined on which is shorter than inthe case where a forward skip instruction has been given after thepredetermined time or more has elapsed. Therefore, in the case where auser executes a forward skip to watch the part which the user wants toview from its beginning after the user executes a backward skip toreturn to a position before the part which the user wants to view, theskip is executed for a shorter skip time. This makes it possible toshorten the waiting time until this part's head is reproduced.

Moreover, in the above described reproduction apparatus, preferably: thereproduction apparatus should further include, a first skip-time storingmeans for storing the predetermined first skip time in advance, and asecond skip-time storing means for storing in advance the second skiptime shorter than the first skip time; and the skip-time determiningmeans, if the skip-operation accepting means accepts the forwardreproduction-position skip instruction and if the backwardskip-operation elapse time clocked by the backward skip-operationelapse-time clocking means has exceeded the predetermined time, thenshould choose the first skip time stored in advance in the firstskip-time storing means as the forward reproduction-position skip time,and if the skip-operation accepting means accepts the forwardreproduction-position skip instruction and if the backwardskip-operation elapse time clocked by the backward skip-operationelapse-time clocking means has not exceeded the predetermined time, thenshould choose the second skip time stored in advance in the secondskip-time storing means as the forward reproduction-position skip time.

According to this configuration, the predetermined first skip time isstore in advance, and the second skip time which is shorter than thefirst skip time is store in advance. If a forward reproduction-positionskip instruction has been accepted and if the clocked backwardskip-operation elapse time has exceeded a predetermined time, then thefirst skip time stored beforehand is chosen as the forwardreproduction-position skip time. On the other hand, if the forwardreproduction-position skip instruction has been accepted and if theclocked backward skip-operation elapse time has not exceeded thepredetermined time, then the second skip time stored beforehand ischosen as the forward reproduction-position skip time.

Therefore, after a backward skip instruction was given, if aninstruction for a forward skip has been given within a predeterminedtime, then a second skip time is determined on which is shorter than inthe case where a forward skip instruction has been given after thepredetermined time or more has elapsed. Therefore, in the case where auser executes a forward skip to watch the part which the user wants toview from its beginning after the user executes a backward skip toreturn to a position before the part which the user wants to view, theskip is executed for a shorter skip time.

This makes it possible to shorten the waiting time until this part'shead is reproduced.

In addition, in the above described reproduction apparatus, it ispreferable that: the reproduction apparatus further include, a forwardskip-operation elapse-time clocking means for clocking the time whichelapses after the last instruction is given for the forwardreproduction-position skip, a backward skip-operation elapse-timeclocking means for clocking the time which elapses after the lastinstruction is given for the backward reproduction-position skip, and adeciding means for deciding whether or not the elapse time clocked bythe backward skip-operation elapse-time clocking means has exceeded apredetermined time, if the skip-operation accepting means accepts theforward reproduction-position skip instruction, and deciding whether ornot the elapse time clocked by the forward skip-operation elapse-timeclocking means has exceeded a predetermined time, if the skip-operationaccepting means accepts the backward reproduction-position skipinstruction; and if the deciding means decides that the predeterminedtime has elapsed, the skip-time determining means determine apredetermined first skip time, and if the deciding means decides thatthe predetermined time had not elapsed, the skip-time determining meansdetermine a second skip time shorter than the first skip time.

According to this configuration, the time is clocked which has passedsince an instruction for a forward reproduction-position skip was lastgiven and the time is clocked which has passed since an instruction fora backward reproduction-position skip was last given. If an instructionis accepted for a forward reproduction-position skip, a decision is madewhether or not the time which has elapsed since the backwardreproduction-position skip instruction was last given has exceeded apredetermined time. Then, if an instruction is accepted for a backwardreproduction-position skip, a decision is made whether or not the timewhich has elapsed since the forward reproduction-position skipinstruction was last given has exceeded a predetermined time. If thedecision is made that the elapse time has exceeded the predeterminedtime, the skip time is determined for the predetermined first skip time.On the other hand, if the decision is made that it has not exceeded thepredetermined time, the skip time is determined for the second skip timeshorter than the first skip time.

Therefore, after a forward or backward skip instruction was given, if aninstruction has been given for a skip in the direction opposite to thepreceding instruction within a predetermined time, then the second skiptime is determined on which is shorter than in the case where aninstruction has been given for a skip in the direction opposite to thepreceding instruction after the predetermined time or more has elapsed.Therefore, in the case where a user executes a backward skip to watchthe part which the user wants to view from its beginning after the userexecutes a forward skip to skip the part which the user does not want toview, or in the case where a user executes a forward skip to watch thepart which the user wants to view from its beginning after the userexecutes a backward skip to return to a position before the part whichthe user wants to view, the skip is executed for a shorter skip time.This makes it possible to shorten the waiting time until this part'shead is reproduced.

Furthermore, in the above described reproduction apparatus, preferably:the reproduction apparatus should further include, a first skip-timestoring means for storing the predetermined first skip time in advance,and a second skip-time storing means for storing in advance the secondskip time shorter than the first skip time; and the skip-timedetermining means, if the skip-operation accepting means accepts theforward reproduction-position skip instruction and if the backwardskip-operation elapse time clocked by the backward skip-operationelapse-time clocking means has exceeded the predetermined time, thenshould choose the first skip time stored in advance in the firstskip-time storing means as the forward reproduction-position skip time,if the skip-operation accepting means accepts the forwardreproduction-position skip instruction and if the backwardskip-operation elapse time clocked by the backward skip-operationelapse-time clocking means has not exceeded the predetermined time, thenshould choose the second skip time stored in advance in the secondskip-time storing means as the forward reproduction-position skip time,if the skip-operation accepting means accepts the backwardreproduction-position skip instruction and if the forward skip-operationelapse time clocked by the forward skip-operation elapse-time clockingmeans has exceeded the predetermined time, then should choose the firstskip time stored in advance in the first skip-time storing means as thebackward reproduction-position skip time, and if the skip-operationaccepting means accepts the backward reproduction-position skipinstruction and if the forward skip-operation elapse time clocked by theforward skip-operation elapse-time clocking means has not exceeded thepredetermined time, then should choose the second skip time stored inadvance in the second skip-time storing means as the backwardreproduction-position skip time.

According to this configuration, the predetermined first skip time isstore in advance, and the second skip time which is shorter than thefirst skip time is store in advance. If a forward reproduction-positionskip instruction has been accepted and if the clocked backwardskip-operation elapse time has exceeded a predetermined time, then thefirst skip time stored beforehand is chosen as the forwardreproduction-position skip time. On the other hand, if the forwardreproduction-position skip instruction has been accepted and if theclocked backward skip-operation elapse time has not exceeded thepredetermined time, then the second skip time stored beforehand ischosen as the forward reproduction-position skip time. Further, if abackward reproduction-position skip instruction has been accepted and ifthe clocked forward skip-operation elapse time has exceeded apredetermined time, then the first skip time stored beforehand is chosenas the backward reproduction-position skip time. Still further, if thebackward reproduction-position skip instruction has been accepted and ifthe clocked forward skip-operation elapse time has not exceeded thepredetermined time, then the second skip time stored beforehand ischosen as the backward reproduction-position skip time.

Accordingly, after a forward skip instruction was given, if aninstruction for a backward skip has been given within a predeterminedtime, then a second skip time is determined on which is shorter than inthe case where a backward skip instruction has been given after thepredetermined time or more has elapsed. Therefore, in the case where auser executes a backward skip to watch the part which the user wants toview from its beginning after the user executes a forward skip to skipthe part which the user does not want to view, the skip is executed fora shorter skip time. This makes it possible to shorten the waiting timeuntil this part's head is reproduced. On the other hand, after abackward skip instruction was given, if an instruction for a forwardskip has been given within a predetermined time, then a second skip timeis determined on which is shorter than in the case where a forward skipinstruction has been given after the predetermined time or more haselapsed. Therefore, in the case where a user executes a forward skip towatch the part which the user wants to view from its beginning after theuser executes a backward skip to return to a position before the partwhich the user wants to view, the skip is executed for a shorter skiptime. This makes it possible to shorten the waiting time until thispart's head is reproduced.

Moreover, in the above described reproduction apparatus, it ispreferable that: the reproduction apparatus further include, askip-direction storing means for storing the skip direction acceptedlast by the skip-operation accepting means, and a skip-number storingmeans for storing the number of times at which the skip-time determiningmeans determines the second skip time repeatedly; and the skip-timedetermining means, determine the second skip time, if the deciding meansdecides that the predetermined time had not elapsed and if theinstruction accepted by the skip-operation accepting means indicates theopposite direction to the skip direction stored in the skip-directionstoring means, determine the second skip time, if the deciding meansdecides that the predetermined time had not elapsed, if the instructionaccepted by the skip-operation accepting means indicates the samedirection as the skip direction stored in the skip-direction storingmeans and if the number of times stored in the skip-number storing meansat which the second skip time is repeatedly determined has not reached apredetermined number of times, determine the first skip time, if thedeciding means decides that the predetermined time had elapsed, anddetermine the first skip time, if the deciding means decides that thepredetermined time had not elapsed, if the instruction accepted by theskip-operation accepting means indicates the same direction as the skipdirection stored in the skip-direction storing means and if the numberof times stored in the skip-number storing means at which the secondskip time is repeatedly determined has reached a predetermined number oftimes.

According to this configuration, the last-accepted skip direction isstored, and the number of times at which the second skip time has beencontinuously determined is stored. Then, if the decision is made thatthe elapse time after an instruction was last given for the skip towardthe opposite direction to the skip direction accepted this time has notexceeded the predetermined time and if the accepted instruction is forthe direction opposite to the stored skip direction, the second skiptime is chosen. On the other hand, if the decision is made that theelapse time after an instruction was last given for the skip toward theopposite direction to the skip direction accepted this time has notexceeded the predetermined time, if the accepted instruction is for thesame direction as the stored skip direction and if the stored number oftimes at which the second skip time has been continuously determined hasnot reached the predetermined number of times, then the second skip timeis chosen. Further, if the decision is made that the elapse time afteran instruction was last given for the skip toward the opposite directionto the skip direction accepted this time has exceeded the predeterminedtime, then the first skip time is determined on. Still further, if thedecision is made that the elapse time after an instruction was lastgiven for the skip toward the opposite direction to the skip directionaccepted this time has not exceeded the predetermined time, if theaccepted instruction is for the same direction as the stored skipdirection and if the stored number of times at which the second skiptime has been continuously determined has reached the predeterminednumber of times, then the first skip time is chosen.

Accordingly, after a forward or backward skip instruction was given, ifan instruction has been given for a skip in the direction opposite tothe preceding one within a predetermined time, then a second skip timeis determined on which is shorter than in the case where an instructionhas been given for a skip in the direction opposite to the preceding oneafter the predetermined time or more has elapsed. In contrast, if a skipoperation has been continuously executed over the second skip time atthe predetermined number of times or more times in the same direction, askip operation is executed over a first skip time which is longer thanthe second skip time. Therefore, even if the head of the part which theuser wants to view is located farther than the position at the time whenthe skip operation has been continuously executed over the second skiptime at the predetermined number of times in the same direction, thenthe reproduction position can be quickly moved to the head of the partwhich the user wants to watch.

In addition, in the above described reproduction apparatus, preferably:a reproduction-time clocking means should be further provided forclocking the reproduction time from the last skip-operation completiontime to the next skip-operation start time; and if the next skipoperation is the forward reproduction-position skip, the skip-timedetermining means should determine, as the skip time, the time which isobtained by subtracting the reproduction time clocked by thereproduction-time clocking means from either skip time of the first skiptime and the second skip time.

According to this configuration, the reproduction time is clocked fromthe last skip-operation completion time to the next skip-operation starttime. If the next skip operation is a forward reproduction-positionskip, the time which is obtained by subtracting the clocked reproductiontime from either skip time of the first skip time and the second skiptime is determined on as the skip time. Therefore, the skip time can bedetermined, taking into account the reproduction time which a user takesto confirm whether a skip has been executed to the part which the userwants to view.

Furthermore, in the above described reproduction apparatus, it ispreferable that: a reproduction-time clocking means be further providedfor clocking the reproduction time from the last skip-operationcompletion time to the next skip-operation start time; and if the nextskip operation is the backward reproduction-position skip, the skip-timedetermining means determine, as the skip time, the time which isobtained by adding the reproduction time clocked by thereproduction-time clocking means to either skip time of the first skiptime and the second skip time.

According to this configuration, the reproduction time is clocked fromthe last skip-operation completion time to the next skip-operation starttime. If the next skip operation is a backward reproduction-positionskip, the time which is obtained by adding the clocked reproduction timeto either skip time of the first skip time and the second skip time isdetermined on as the skip time. Therefore, the skip time can bedetermined, taking into account the reproduction time which a user takesto confirm whether a skip has been executed to the part which the userwants to view.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The reproduction apparatus according to the present invention has thefunction of executing a swift and precise skip to a targetedreproduction position, using a simple operation. Hence, it is useful asa skip method for a reproduction apparatus which is capable of reading,reproducing and displaying information from record media such as a DVDplayer.

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A reproduction apparatus, comprising: a reproducingmeans for reading information stored in a record medium and reproducingthis information; a skip-operation accepting means for arbitrarilyaccepting either instruction for a forward reproduction-position skip ora backward reproduction-position skip; a skip-time determining means formaking a skip time for either of the forward reproduction-position skipand the backward reproduction-position skip longer than a skip time forthe other, and determining a skip time based on either of theinstruction for the forward reproduction-position skip and theinstruction for the backward reproduction-position skip which isaccepted by the skip-operation accepting means; and a controlling meansfor, if the skip-operation accepting means accepts either instructionfor the forward reproduction-position skip or the backwardreproduction-position skip during a reproduction in the reproducingmeans, then stopping the reproduction in the reproducing means, movingthe position in which the reproducing means reads information from therecord medium by the skip time determined by the skip-time determiningmeans, and resuming the reproduction after the movement of the readingposition is completed.
 19. The reproduction apparatus according to claim18, characterized in that if the skip-operation accepting means acceptseither instruction for the forward reproduction-position skip or thebackward reproduction-position skip during a temporary stop in thereproducing means, then the controlling means moves the position inwhich the reproducing means reads information from the record medium bythe skip time determined by the skip-time determining means, andreproduces only the first information in the reading position after themovement.
 20. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 18,characterized in that: the reproduction apparatus further includes, aforward skip-time storing means for storing the forwardreproduction-position skip time in advance, and a backward skip-timestoring means for storing the backward reproduction-position skip timein advance; and if the skip-operation accepting means accepts theforward reproduction-position skip instruction, the skip-timedetermining means chooses the forward reproduction-position skip timestored in the forward skip-time storing means, and if the skip-operationaccepting means accepts the backward reproduction-position skipinstruction, the skip-time determining means chooses the backwardreproduction-position skip time stored in the backward skip-time storingmeans.
 21. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 20,characterized in that the forward skip-time storing means stores inadvance the forward reproduction-position skip time which is a greatervalue than the backward reproduction-position skip time stored inadvance in the backward skip-time storing means.
 22. The reproductionapparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the backwardskip-time storing means stores in advance the backwardreproduction-position skip time which is a greater value than theforward reproduction-position skip time stored in advance in the forwardskip-time storing means.
 23. The reproduction apparatus according toclaim 18, characterized in that: the reproduction apparatus furtherincludes, a forward skip-operation elapse-time clocking means forclocking the time which elapses after the last instruction is given forthe forward reproduction-position skip, and a backward-skip decidingmeans for deciding whether or not the elapse time clocked by the forwardskip-operation elapse-time clocking means has exceeded a predeterminedtime, if the skip-operation accepting means accepts the backwardreproduction-position skip instruction; and if the backward-skipdeciding means decides that the predetermined time has elapsed, theskip-time determining means determines a predetermined first skip time,and if the backward-skip deciding means decides that the predeterminedtime had not elapsed, the skip-time determining means determines asecond skip time shorter than the first skip time.
 24. The reproductionapparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that: the reproductionapparatus further includes, a first skip-time storing means for storingthe predetermined first skip time in advance, and a second skip-timestoring means for storing in advance the second skip time shorter thanthe first skip time; and the skip-time determining means, if theskip-operation accepting means accepts the backwardreproduction-position skip instruction and if the forward skip-operationelapse time clocked by the forward skip-operation elapse-time clockingmeans has exceeded the predetermined time, then chooses the first skiptime stored in advance in the first skip-time storing means as thebackward reproduction-position skip time, and if the skip-operationaccepting means accepts the backward reproduction-position skipinstruction and if the forward skip-operation elapse time clocked by theforward skip-operation elapse-time clocking means has not exceeded thepredetermined time, then chooses the second skip time stored in advancein the second skip-time storing means as the backwardreproduction-position skip time.
 25. The reproduction apparatusaccording to claim 18, characterized in that: the reproduction apparatusfurther includes, a backward skip-operation elapse-time clocking meansfor clocking the time which elapses after the last instruction is givenfor the backward reproduction-position skip, and a forward-skip decidingmeans for deciding whether or not the elapse time clocked by thebackward skip-operation elapse-time clocking means has exceeded apredetermined time, if the skip-operation accepting means accepts theforward reproduction-position skip instruction; and if the forward-skipdeciding means decides that the predetermined time has elapsed, theskip-time determining means determines a predetermined first skip time,and if the forward-skip deciding means decides that the predeterminedtime had not elapsed, the skip-time determining means determines asecond skip time shorter than the first skip time.
 26. The reproductionapparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that: the reproductionapparatus further includes, a first skip-time storing means for storingthe predetermined first skip time in advance, and a second skip-timestoring means for storing in advance the second skip time shorter thanthe first skip time; and the skip-time determining means, if theskip-operation accepting means accepts the forward reproduction-positionskip instruction and if the backward skip-operation elapse time clockedby the backward skip-operation elapse-time clocking means has exceededthe predetermined time, then chooses the first skip time stored inadvance in the first skip-time storing means as the forwardreproduction-position skip time, and if the skip-operation acceptingmeans accepts the forward reproduction-position skip instruction and ifthe backward skip-operation elapse time clocked by the backwardskip-operation elapse-time clocking means has not exceeded thepredetermined time, then chooses the second skip time stored in advancein the second skip-time storing means as the forwardreproduction-position skip time.
 27. The reproduction apparatusaccording to claim 18, characterized in that: the reproduction apparatusfurther includes, a forward skip-operation elapse-time clocking meansfor clocking the time which elapses after the last instruction is givenfor the forward reproduction-position skip, a backward skip-operationelapse-time clocking means for clocking the time which elapses after thelast instruction is given for the backward reproduction-position skip,and a deciding means for deciding whether or not the elapse time clockedby the backward skip-operation elapse-time clocking means has exceeded apredetermined time, if the skip-operation accepting means accepts theforward reproduction-position skip instruction, and deciding whether ornot the elapse time clocked by the forward skip-operation elapse-timeclocking means has exceeded a predetermined time, if the skip-operationaccepting means accepts the backward reproduction-position skipinstruction; and if the deciding means decides that the predeterminedtime has elapsed, the skip-time determining means determines apredetermined first skip time, and if the deciding means decides thatthe predetermined time had not elapsed, the skip-time determining meansdetermines a second skip time shorter than the first skip time.
 28. Thereproduction apparatus according to claim 27, characterized in that: thereproduction apparatus further includes, a first skip-time storing meansfor storing the predetermined first skip time in advance, and a secondskip-time storing means for storing in advance the second skip timeshorter than the first skip time; and the skip-time determining means,if the skip-operation accepting means accepts the forwardreproduction-position skip instruction and if the backwardskip-operation elapse time clocked by the backward skip-operationelapse-time clocking means has exceeded the predetermined time, thenchooses the first skip time stored in advance in the first skip-timestoring means as the forward reproduction-position skip time, if theskip-operation accepting means accepts the forward reproduction-positionskip instruction and if the backward skip-operation elapse time clockedby the backward skip-operation elapse-time clocking means has notexceeded the predetermined time, then chooses the second skip timestored in advance in the second skip-time storing means as the forwardreproduction-position skip time, if the skip-operation accepting meansaccepts the backward reproduction-position skip instruction and if theforward skip-operation elapse time clocked by the forward skip-operationelapse-time clocking means has exceeded the predetermined time, thenchooses the first skip time stored in advance in the first skip-timestoring means as the backward reproduction-position skip time, and ifthe skip-operation accepting means accepts the backwardreproduction-position skip instruction and if the forward skip-operationelapse time clocked by the forward skip-operation elapse-time clockingmeans has not exceeded the predetermined time, then chooses the secondskip time stored in advance in the second skip-time storing means as thebackward reproduction-position skip time.
 29. The reproduction apparatusaccording to claim 28, characterized in that: the reproduction apparatusfurther includes, a skip-direction storing means for storing the skipdirection accepted last by the skip-operation accepting means, and askip-number storing means for storing the number of times at which theskip-time determining means determines the second skip time repeatedly;and the skip-time determining means, determines the second skip time, ifthe deciding means decides that the predetermined time had not elapsedand if the instruction accepted by the skip-operation accepting meansindicates the opposite direction to the skip direction stored in theskip-direction storing means, determines the second skip time, if thedeciding means decides that the predetermined time had not elapsed, ifthe instruction accepted by the skip-operation accepting means indicatesthe same direction as the skip direction stored in the skip-directionstoring means and if the number of times stored in the skip-numberstoring means at which the second skip time is repeatedly determined hasnot reached a predetermined number of times, determines the first skiptime, if the deciding means decides that the predetermined time hadelapsed, and determines the first skip time, if the deciding meansdecides that the predetermined time had not elapsed, if the instructionaccepted by the skip-operation accepting means indicates the samedirection as the skip direction stored in the skip-direction storingmeans and if the number of times stored in the skip-number storing meansat which the second skip time is repeatedly determined has reached apredetermined number of times.
 30. The reproduction apparatus accordingto claim 23, characterized in that: a reproduction-time clocking meansis further provided for clocking the reproduction time from the lastskip-operation completion time to the next skip-operation start time;and if the next skip operation is the forward reproduction-positionskip, the skip-time determining means determines, as the skip time, thetime which is obtained by subtracting the reproduction time clocked bythe reproduction-time clocking means from either skip time of the firstskip time and the second skip time.
 31. The reproduction apparatusaccording to claim 25, characterized in that: a reproduction-timeclocking means is further provided for clocking the reproduction timefrom the last skip-operation completion time to the next skip-operationstart time; and if the next skip operation is the forwardreproduction-position skip, the skip-time determining means determines,as the skip time, the time which is obtained by subtracting thereproduction time clocked by the reproduction-time clocking means fromeither skip time of the first skip time and the second skip time. 32.The reproduction apparatus according to claim 27, characterized in that:a reproduction-time clocking means is further provided for clocking thereproduction time from the last skip-operation completion time to thenext skip-operation start time; and if the next skip operation is theforward reproduction-position skip, the skip-time determining meansdetermines, as the skip time, the time which is obtained by subtractingthe reproduction time clocked by the reproduction-time clocking meansfrom either skip time of the first skip time and the second skip time.33. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 23, characterized inthat: a reproduction-time clocking means is further provided forclocking the reproduction time from the last skip-operation completiontime to the next skip-operation start time; and if the next skipoperation is the backward reproduction-position skip, the skip-timedetermining means determines, as the skip time, the time which isobtained by adding the reproduction time clocked by thereproduction-time clocking means to either skip time of the first skiptime and the second skip time.
 34. The reproduction apparatus accordingto claim 25, characterized in that: a reproduction-time clocking meansis further provided for clocking the reproduction time from the lastskip-operation completion time to the next skip-operation start time;and if the next skip operation is the backward reproduction-positionskip, the skip-time determining means determines, as the skip time, thetime which is obtained by adding the reproduction time clocked by thereproduction-time clocking means to either skip time of the first skiptime and the second skip time.
 35. The reproduction apparatus accordingto claim 27, characterized in that: a reproduction-time clocking meansis further provided for clocking the reproduction time from the lastskip-operation completion time to the next skip-operation start time;and if the next skip operation is the backward reproduction-positionskip, the skip-time determining means determines, as the skip time, thetime which is obtained by adding the reproduction time clocked by thereproduction-time clocking means to either skip time of the first skiptime and the second skip time.
 36. A reproduction method, comprising: areproducing step of reading information stored in a record medium andreproducing this information; a skip-operation accepting step ofarbitrarily accepting either instruction for a forwardreproduction-position skip or a backward reproduction-position skip; askip-time determining step of making a skip time for either of theforward reproduction-position skip and the backwardreproduction-position skip longer than a skip time for the other, anddetermining a skip time based on either of the instruction for theforward reproduction-position skip and the instruction for the backwardreproduction-position skip which is accepted in the skip-operationaccepting step; and a controlling step of, if either instruction for theforward reproduction-position skip or the backward reproduction-positionskip is accepted during a reproduction, then stopping the reproduction,moving the position in which information is read from the record mediumby the skip time determined in the skip-time determining step, andresuming the reproduction after the movement of the reading position iscompleted.
 37. A computer-readable record medium in which a reproductionprogram is stored, allowing a computer to function as: a reproducingmeans for reading information stored in a record medium and reproducingthis information; a skip-operation accepting means for arbitrarilyaccepting either instruction for a forward reproduction-position skip ora backward reproduction-position skip; a skip-time determining means formaking a skip time for either of the forward reproduction-position skipand the backward reproduction-position skip longer than a skip time forthe other, and determining a skip time based on either of theinstruction for the forward reproduction-position skip and theinstruction for the backward reproduction-position skip which isaccepted by the skip-operation accepting means; and a controlling meansfor, if the skip-operation accepting means accepts either instructionfor the forward reproduction-position skip or the backwardreproduction-position skip during a reproduction in the reproducingmeans, then stopping the reproduction in the reproducing means, movingthe position in which the reproducing means reads information from therecord medium by the skip time determined by the skip-time determiningmeans, and resuming the reproduction after the movement of the readingposition is completed.